Bible Society of South Africa

Season after Pentecost: Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost

First reading and Psalm

A Prayer for Forgiveness

1Be merciful to me, O God,

because of your constant love.

Because of your great mercy

wipe away my sins!

2Wash away all my evil

and make me clean from my sin!

3I recognize my faults;

I am always conscious of my sins.

4I have sinned against you — only against you —

and done what you consider evil.

So you are right in judging me;

you are justified in condemning me.

5I have been evil from the day I was born;

from the time I was conceived, I have been sinful.

6Sincerity and truth are what you require;

fill my mind with your wisdom.

7Remove my sin, and I will be clean;

wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

8Let me hear the sounds of joy and gladness;

and though you have crushed me and broken me,

I will be happy once again.

9Close your eyes to my sins

and wipe out all my evil.

10Create a pure heart in me, O God,

and put a new and loyal spirit in me.

11Do not banish me from your presence;

do not take your Holy Spirit away from me.

12Give me again the joy that comes from your salvation,

and make me willing to obey you.

Psalms 51:1-12GNBOpen in Bible reader
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