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.