(For the music leader. A psalm by David when the prophet Nathan came to him after David had been with Bathsheba.)
A Prayer for Forgiveness
1 You are kind, God!
Please have pity on me.
You are always merciful!
Please wipe away my sins.
2 Wash me clean from all
of my sin and guilt.
3 I know about my sins,
and I cannot forget
the burden of my guilt.
4 You are really the one
I have sinned against;
I have disobeyed you
and have done wrong.
So it is right and fair for you
to correct and punish me.
5 I have sinned and done wrong
since the day I was born.
6 But you want complete honesty,
so teach me true wisdom.
7 Wash me with hyssop
until I am clean
and whiter than snow.
8 Let me be happy and joyful!
You crushed my bones,
now let them celebrate.
9 Turn your eyes from my sin
and cover my guilt.
10 Create pure thoughts in me
and make me faithful again.
11 Don't chase me away from you
or take your Holy Spirit
away from me.
12 Make me as happy as you did
when you saved me;
make me want to obey!
13 I will teach sinners your Law,
and they will return to you.
14 Keep me from any deadly sin.
Only you can save me!
Then I will shout and sing
about your power to save.
15 Help me to speak,
and I will praise you, Lord.
16 Offerings and sacrifices
are not what you want.
17 The way to please you
is to be truly sorry
deep in our hearts.
This is the kind of sacrifice
you won't refuse.
18 Please be willing, Lord,
to help the city of Zion
and to rebuild its walls.
19 Then you will be pleased
with the proper sacrifices,
and we will offer bulls
on your altar once again.
Ntembezelo wekukumbila mazwiibhatigo
1 Ibeni ne ngoni mundili, Ndzimu,
kuyendidzana nge ludo gwenyu gusingazunguzike;
bukushani matjinyo angu kuyendidzana ne ngoni dzenyu.
2 Sukani milandu yangu kwazo,
kakale musuke tjibi tjangu.
3 Ngobe ndoziba milandu yangu,
ne tjibi tjangu tji mbeli kwangu misi yose.
4 Ndakatjinyidzila imwi koga,
ndikathama tjakabipa mu mesho enyu,
kuti ndizo shamu yamunoloba bathu benyu ibe mu malebeswa
ne ngekuti mushayiwe nlandu ha mupedza ndebo.
5 Malebeswa hwuti ndakazwagwa ndina jinyo,
ndakabe ntjinyi mme yangu betola ntumbu.
6 Moshaka lebeswa mukatikati kwe nthu;
ndizo mundidiye butjenjedu mu moyo wangu.
7 Mundisuke nge hosapu ndizo ndowobe mbuyanana;
mundisuke, ndizo ndowobe ntjena kupinda kapuku.
8 Thamani kuti ndihwe mpululu ne shatho;
thamani kuti mafupa amakapkhwanya ashathe.
9 Zwimbani mesho enyu kuti musibone zwibi zwangu,
kakale mubukushe milandu yangu yose.
10 Bumbani mundili moyo mbuyanana, Ndzimu,
kakale mulonge meya tshwa yakalulwama mukati kwangu.
11 Musinditatile kutjena namwi,
kakale mosinditolele Meya yenyu yakayengemala.
12 Mundibgwilizile shatho ye jidzo lenyu,
kakale musimise mukati kwangu meya inoshaka ndulamo.
13 Ndizo ndowodiya batjinyi zila dzenyu,
ngono batjinyi banowoshandukila kumuli.
14 Munditjidze mukutebula lopa, Ndzimu,
imwi Ndzimu we jidzo langu,
ngono lulimi gwangu gowombila pezhugwi ngekwe jidzo lenyu.
15 She, mumunulani nlomo wangu,
ndizo ndowomukudza ndiwo.
16 Amutoda zwibhayilo;
Ha ndabe ndingadusa zwipo zwakapisiwa,
amungazwishathile.
17 Tjibhayilo tjinoamutjilika ku Ndzimu,
i meya yakahwa zogwadza;
moyo umukuhwa zogwadza amungaulingile pasi.
18 Thamilani Ziyoni kwakalulwama mu kushatha kwenyu;
bakani kakale makuma e Jerusalema,
19 ndizo mowoshathisiwa nge zwibhayilo zwakapelela zwakapisiwa;
ndizo mikono inowobhayigwa mu zwibeso zwenyu.