The Blessedness of Forgiveness

32¹ By David.—An Instruction. O the happiness of him whose transgression 'is' forgiven, Whose sin is covered. ² O the happiness of a man, To whom Jehovah imputeth not iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit. ³ When I have kept silence, become old have my bones, Through my roaring all the day. ⁴ When by day and by night Thy hand is heavy upon me, My moisture hath been changed Into the droughts of summer. Selah. ⁵ My sin I cause Thee to know, And mine iniquity I have not covered. I have said, 'I confess concerning My transgressions to Jehovah,' And Thou—Thou hast taken away, The iniquity of my sin. Selah. ⁶ For this doth every saintly one pray to Thee, As the time to find. Surely at an overflowing of many waters, Unto him they come not.

⁷ Thou 'art' a hiding-place for me, From distress Thou dost keep me, 'With' songs of deliverance dost compass me. Selah. ⁸ I cause thee to act wisely, And direct thee in the way that thou goest, I cause mine eye to take counsel concerning thee. ⁹ Be ye not as a horse—as a mule, Without understanding, With bridle and bit, its ornaments, to curb, Not to come near unto thee. ¹⁰ Many 'are' the pains of the wicked; As to him who is trusting in Jehovah, Kindness doth compass him. ¹¹ Be glad in Jehovah, and rejoice, ye righteous, And sing, all ye upright of heart!

A Prayer for Cleansing

51¹ Favour me, O God, according to Thy kindness, According to the abundance of Thy mercies, Blot out my transgressions. ² Thoroughly wash me from mine iniquity, And from my sin cleanse me, ³ For my transgressions I do know, And my sin 'is' before me continually. ⁴ Against Thee, Thee only, I have sinned, And done the evil thing in Thine eyes, So that Thou art righteous in Thy words, Thou art pure in Thy judging. ⁵ Lo, in iniquity I have been brought forth, And in sin doth my mother conceive me. ⁶ Lo, truth Thou hast desired in the inward parts, And in the hidden part Wisdom Thou causest me to know.

⁷ Thou cleansest me with hyssop and I am clean, Washest me, and than snow I am whiter. ⁸ Thou causest me to hear joy and gladness, Thou makest joyful bones Thou hast bruised. ⁹ Hide Thy face from my sin. And all mine iniquities blot out. ¹⁰ A clean heart prepare for me, O God, And a right spirit renew within me. ¹¹ Cast me not forth from Thy presence, And Thy Holy Spirit take not from me. ¹² Restore to me the joy of Thy salvation, And a willing spirit doth sustain me. ¹³ I teach transgressors Thy ways, And sinners unto Thee do return.

¹⁴ Deliver me from blood, O God, God of my salvation, My tongue singeth of Thy righteousness. ¹⁵ O Lord, my lips thou dost open, And my mouth declareth Thy praise. ¹⁶ For Thou desirest not sacrifice, or I give 'it', Burnt-offering Thou acceptest not. ¹⁷ The sacrifices of God 'are' a broken spirit, A heart broken and bruised, O God, Thou dost not despise. ¹⁸ Do good in Thy good pleasure with Zion, Thou dost build the walls of Jerusalem. ¹⁹ Then Thou desirest sacrifices of righteousness, Burnt-offering, and whole burnt-offering, Then they offer bullocks on thine altar!

A Prayer for God's Continued Mercy

86¹ A Prayer of David. Incline, O Jehovah, Thine ear, Answer me, for I 'am' poor and needy. ² Keep my soul, for I 'am' pious, Save Thy servant—who is trusting to Thee, O Thou, my God. ³ Favour me, O Lord, for to Thee I call all the day. ⁴ Rejoice the soul of Thy servant, For unto Thee, O Lord, my soul I lift up. ⁵ For Thou, Lord, 'art' good and forgiving. And abundant in kindness to all calling Thee. ⁶ Hear, O Jehovah, my prayer, And attend to the voice of my supplications. ⁷ In a day of my distress I call Thee, For Thou dost answer me.

⁸ There is none like Thee among the gods, O Lord, And like Thy works there are none. ⁹ All nations that Thou hast made Come and bow themselves before Thee, O Lord, And give honour to Thy name. ¹⁰ For great 'art' Thou, and doing wonders, Thou 'art' God Thyself alone. ¹¹ Show me, O Jehovah, Thy way, I walk in Thy truth, My heart doth rejoice to fear Thy name. ¹² I confess Thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart, And I honour Thy name to the age. ¹³ For Thy kindness 'is' great toward me, And Thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest Sheol. ¹⁴ O God, the proud have risen up against me, And a company of the terrible sought my soul, And have not placed Thee before them, ¹⁵ And Thou, O Lord, 'art' God, merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abundant in kindness and truth. ¹⁶ Look unto me, and favour me, Give Thy strength to Thy servant, And give salvation to a son of Thine handmaid. ¹⁷ Do with me a sign for good, And those hating me see and are ashamed, For Thou, O Jehovah, hast helped me, Yea, Thou hast comforted me!

A Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem

122¹ A Song of the Ascents, by David. I have rejoiced in those saying to me, 'To the house of Jehovah we go.' ² Our feet have been standing in thy gates, O Jerusalem! ³ Jerusalem—the builded one—'Is' as a city that is joined to itself together. ⁴ For thither have tribes gone up, Tribes of Jah, companies of Israel, To give thanks to the name of Jehovah. ⁵ For there have sat thrones of judgment, Thrones of the house of David.

⁶ Ask ye the peace of Jerusalem, At rest are those loving thee. ⁷ Peace is in thy bulwark, rest in thy high places, ⁸ For the sake of my brethren and my companions, Let me speak, I pray thee, 'Peace 'be' in thee.' ⁹ For the sake of the house of Jehovah our God, I seek good for thee!