The Blessedness of Forgiveness

321 Blessed is he whose disobedience is forgiven,
whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man to whom Yahweh doesn’t impute iniquity,
in whose spirit there is no deceit. 3 When I kept silence, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. 4 For day and night your hand was heavy on me.
My strength was sapped in the heat of summer. Selah. 5 I acknowledged my sin to you.
I didn’t hide my iniquity.
I said, I will confess my transgressions to Yahweh,
and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah. 6 For this, let everyone who is godly pray to you in a time when you may be found.
Surely when the great waters overflow, they shall not reach to him.

7 You are my hiding place.
You will preserve me from trouble.
You will surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah. 8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you shall go.
I will counsel you with my eye on you. 9 Don’t be like the horse, or like the mule, which have no understanding,
who are controlled by bit and bridle, or else they will not come near to you. 10 Many sorrows come to the wicked,
but loving kindness shall surround him who trusts in Yahweh. 11 Be glad in Yahweh, and rejoice, you righteous!
Shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart!

A Prayer for Cleansing

511 Have mercy on me, God, according to your loving kindness.
According to the multitude of your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity.
Cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I know my transgressions.
My sin is constantly before me. 4 Against you, and you only, have I sinned,
and done that which is evil in your sight;
that you may be proved right when you speak,
and justified when you judge. 5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity.
In sin my mother conceived me. 6 Behold, you desire truth in the inward parts.
You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

7 Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean.
Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness,
That the bones which you have broken may rejoice. 9 Hide your face from my sins,
and blot out all of my iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God.
Renew a right spirit within me. 11 Don’t throw me from your presence,
and don’t take your holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation.
Uphold me with a willing spirit. 13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways.
Sinners shall be converted to you.

14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation.
My tongue shall sing aloud of your righteousness. 15 Lord, open my lips.
My mouth shall declare your praise. 16 For you don’t delight in sacrifice, or else I would give it.
You have no pleasure in burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit.
A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. 18 Do well in your good pleasure to Zion.
Build the walls of Jerusalem. 19 Then you will delight in the sacrifices of righteousness,
in burnt offerings and in whole burnt offerings.
Then they will offer bulls on your altar.

A Prayer for God's Continued Mercy

861 Hear, Yahweh, and answer me,
for I am poor and needy. 2 Preserve my soul, for I am godly.
You, my God, save your servant who trusts in you. 3 Be merciful to me, Lord,
for I call to you all day long. 4 Bring joy to the soul of your servant,
for to you, Lord, do I lift up my soul. 5 For you, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive;
abundant in loving kindness to all those who call on you. 6 Hear, Yahweh, my prayer.
Listen to the voice of my petitions. 7 In the day of my trouble I will call on you,
for you will answer me.

8 There is no one like you among the gods, Lord,
nor any deeds like your deeds. 9 All nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord.
They shall glorify your name. 10 For you are great, and do wondrous things.
You are God alone. 11 Teach me your way, Yahweh.
I will walk in your truth.
Make my heart undivided to fear your name. 12 I will praise you, Lord my God, with my whole heart.
I will glorify your name forevermore. 13 For your loving kindness is great toward me.
You have delivered my soul from the lowest Sheol. 14 God, the proud have risen up against me.
A company of violent men have sought after my soul,
and they don’t hold regard for you before them. 15 But you, Lord, are a merciful and gracious God,
slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness and truth. 16 Turn to me, and have mercy on me!
Give your strength to your servant.
Save the son of your handmaid. 17 Show me a sign of your goodness,
that those who hate me may see it, and be shamed,
because you, Yahweh, have helped me, and comforted me.

A Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem

1221 I was glad when they said to me,
“Let’s go to Yahweh’s house!” 2 Our feet are standing within your gates, Jerusalem; 3 Jerusalem, that is built as a city that is compact together; 4 where the tribes go up, even Yah’s tribes,
according to an ordinance for Israel,
to give thanks to the name of Yahweh. 5 For there are set thrones for judgment,
the thrones of David’s house.

6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
Those who love you will prosper. 7 Peace be within your walls,
and prosperity within your palaces. 8 For my brothers’ and companions’ sakes,
I will now say, “Peace be within you.” 9 For the sake of the house of Yahweh our God,
I will seek your good.