The Children's Bible
A Prayer For Forgiveness

      Have mercy upon me, O God,
      According to thy loving-kindness,
      According to the multitude of thy tender mercies,
      Blot out all my transgressions,
      Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity,
      And cleanse me from my sin.
      For well do I know my misdeeds,
      And my sin is always before me.
      Against thee, thee only have I sinned,
      And done what is wrong in thy sight;
      Therefore thou art right when thou speakest,
      And just when thou pronouncest thy judgment.
      
      Verily I was born in iniquity,
      And in sin did my mother conceive me.
      Yet thou desirest truth in the heart,
      In my inner soul thou wouldst teach me wisdom.
      Cleanse me with hyssop that I may be clean,
      Wash me whiter than snow.
      Fill me with joy and gladness,
      That the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
      Hide thy face from my sins,
      And blot out all mine iniquities.
      
      Create in me a clean heart, O God,
      And renew a right spirit within me.
      Cast me not away from thy presence,
      Withdraw not thy holy spirit from me.
      Give me back the glad sense of thy help,
      And with a willing spirit sustain me.
      
      Then I will teach sinners thy ways,
      And wrong-doers shall turn unto thee.
      Save me from bloodshed, O God,
      That my tongue may sing of thy righteousness.
      O Lord, open thou my lips,
      That my mouth may declare thy praise!
      
      For thou takest no pleasure in sacrifice,
      No delight in gifts of burnt-offering.
      The sacrifices pleasing to thee
      Are a broken and a contrite spirit.