Contemporary English Version (For the music leader. A psalm by David when the prophet Nathan came to him after David had been with Bathsheba.)A Prayer for ForgivenessPlease have pity on me. You are always merciful! Please wipe away my sins. 2Wash me clean from all of my sin and guilt. 3I know about my sins, and I cannot forget the burden of my guilt. I have sinned against; I have disobeyed you and have done wrong. So it is right and fair for you to correct and punish me. 5I have sinned and done wrong since the day I was born. 6But you want complete honesty, so teach me true wisdom. 7Wash me with hyssop+ until I am clean and whiter than snow. 8Let me be happy and joyful! You crushed my bones, now let them celebrate. 9Turn your eyes from my sin and cover my guilt. 10Create pure thoughts in me and make me faithful again. 11Don't chase me away from you or take your Holy Spirit away from me. 12Make me as happy as you did when you saved me; make me want to obey! 13I will teach sinners your Law, and they will return to you. 14Keep me from any deadly sin. Only you can save me! Then I will shout and sing about your power to save. 15Help me to speak, and I will praise you, Lord. 16Offerings and sacrifices are not what you want. 17The way to please you is to be truly sorry deep in our hearts. This is the kind of sacrifice you won't refuse. 18Please be willing, Lord, to help the city of Zion and to rebuild its walls. 19Then you will be pleased with the proper sacrifices, and we will offer bulls on your altar once again. Footnotes: Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®) © 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved. Bible text from the Contemporary English Version 2nd Edition (CEV®) is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by American Bible Society, 101 North Independence Mall East, Floor 8, Philadelphia, PA 19106-2155 (www.americanbible.org). Learn more at www.cev.bible. Discover .BIBLE resources for your ministry at www.get.bible/cev Home |