Contemporary English Version (A psalm by David for Jeduthun, the music leader.)A Prayer for Forgiveness1I told myself, “I'll be careful not to sin by what I say, and I'll muzzle my mouth when evil people are near.” 2I kept completely silent, but it did no good,+ and I hurt even worse. 3I felt a fire burning inside, and the more I thought, the more it burned, until at last I said: 4“Please, Lord, show me my future. Will I soon be gone? 5You made my life short, so brief that the time means nothing to you. “Human life is but a breath, 6and it disappears like a shadow. Our struggles are senseless; we store up more and more, without ever knowing who will get it all. 7“What am I waiting for? I depend on you, Lord! 8Save me from my sins. Don't let fools sneer at me. 9You treated me like this, and I kept silent, not saying a word. 10“Won't you stop punishing me? You have worn me down. 11You punish us severely because of our sins. Like a moth, you destroy what we treasure most. We are as frail as a breath. 12“Listen, Lord, to my prayer! My eyes are flooded with tears, as I pray to you. I am merely a stranger visiting in your home as my ancestors did. 13Stop being angry with me and let me smile again before I am dead and gone.” Footnotes: Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®) © 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved. Bible text from the Contemporary English Version 2nd Edition (CEV®) is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by American Bible Society, 101 North Independence Mall East, Floor 8, Philadelphia, PA 19106-2155 (www.americanbible.org). Learn more at www.cev.bible. Discover .BIBLE resources for your ministry at www.get.bible/cev Bible Hub |