(A special psalm by David.)
The Joy of Forgiveness
1 Our Lord, you bless everyone
whose sins you forgive
and wipe away.
2 You bless them by saying,
“You told me your sins,
without trying to hide them,
and now I forgive you.”
3 Before I confessed my sins,
my bones felt limp,
and I groaned all day long.
4 Night and day your hand
weighed heavily on me,
and my strength was gone
as in the summer heat.
5 So I confessed my sins
and told them all to you.
I said, “I'll tell the Lord
each one of my sins.”
Then you forgave me
and took away my guilt.
6 We worship you, Lord,
and we should always pray
whenever we find out
that we have sinned.
Then we won't be swept away
by a raging flood.
7 You are my hiding place!
You protect me from trouble,
and you put songs in my heart
because you have saved me.
8 You said to me,
“I will point out the road
that you should follow.
I will be your teacher
and watch over you.
9 Don't be stupid
like horses and mules
that must be led with ropes
to make them obey.”
10 All kinds of troubles
will strike the wicked,
but your kindness shields those
who trust you, Lord.
11 And so your good people
should celebrate and shout.
1 A Psalme of David to give instruction. Blessed is he whose wickednes is forgiuen, and whose sinne is couered. 2 Blessed is the man, vnto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquitie, and in whose spirite there is no guile. 3 When I helde my tongue, my bones consumed, or when I roared all the day, 4 (For thine hand is heauie vpon me, day and night: and my moysture is turned into ye drought of summer. Selah) 5 Then I acknowledged my sinne vnto thee, neither hid I mine iniquitie: for I thought, I will confesse against my selfe my wickednesse vnto the Lord, and thou forgauest the punishment of my sinne. Selah. 6 Therefore shall euery one, that is godly, make his prayer vnto thee in a time, when thou mayest be founde: surely in the flood of great waters they shall not come neere him. 7 Thou art my secret place: thou preseruest me from trouble: thou compassest me about with ioyfull deliuerance. Selah. 8 I will instruct thee, and teache thee in the way that thou shalt goe, and I will guide thee with mine eye. 9 Be ye not like an horse, or like a mule, which vnderstand not: whose mouthes thou doest binde with bit and bridle, least they come neere thee. 10 Many sorowes shall come to the wicked: but he, that trusteth in the Lord, mercie shall compasse him. 11 Be glad ye righteous, and reioyce in the Lord, and be ioyfull all ye, that are vpright in heart.