Prayers of Confession
One can not do better than praying the Psalms.

A Prayer for Forgiveness

I told myself, “I’ll be careful
not to sin by what I say,
and I’ll muzzle my mouth
when evil people are near.”
I kept completely silent,
but it did no good,
and I hurt even worse. 

I felt a fire burning inside,
and the more I thought,
the more it burned,
until at last I said:
“Please LORD,
show me my future.
Will I soon be gone?
You made my life short,
so brief that the time
means nothing to you

“Human life is but a breath,
and it disappears
like a shadow.
Our struggles are senseless;
we store up more and more,
without ever knowing
who will get it all.

“What am I waiting for?
I depend on you, Lord!
Save me from my sins.
Don’t let fools sneer at me.
You treated me like this,
and I kept silent,
not saying a word. 

“Won’t you stop punishing me?
You have worn me down.
You punish us severely
because of our sins.
Like a moth, you destroy
what we treasure most.
We are as frail as a breath.

“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.
Stop being angry with me
and let me smile again
before I am dead and gone.”
Psalm 39

A Prayer for Forgiveness

You are kind, God!
Please have pity on me.
You are always merciful!
Please wipe away my sins.
Wash me clean from all
of my sin and guilt.

I know about my sins,
and I cannot forget
my terrible guilt.

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. 

I have sinned and done wrong
since the day I was born.
But you want complete honesty,
so teach me true wisdom.

Wash me with hyssop
until I am clean
and whiter than snow.

Let me be happy and joyful!
You crushed my bones,
now let them celebrate.
Turn your eyes from my sin
and cover my guilt.
Create pure thoughts in me
and make me faithful again.
Don’t chase me away from
or take your Holy Spirit
away from me.

Make me as happy as you did
when you saved me;
Make me want to obey!
I will teach sinners your Law,
and they will return to you.
Keep me from any deadly sin.
Only you can save me!
Then I will shout and sing
about your power to save.

Help me to speak
and I will praise you, Lord.
Offerings and sacrifices
are not what you want.
The way to please you
is to feel sorrow
deep in our hearts.
This is the kind of sacrifice
you won’t refuse.

Please be willing, Lord,
to help the city of Zion
and to rebuild its walls.
Then you will be pleased
with the proper sacrifices,
and we will offer bulls
on your altar once again.
PSALM 51

Our God, you bless everyone
whose sins you forgive
and wipe way.

You bless them by saying,
"You told me your sins,
without trying to hide them,
and now I forgive you."

Before I confessed my sins,
my bones felt limp,
and I groaned all day long.
Night and day your hand
weighed heavily on me,
and my strength was gone
as in the summer heat.

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.

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.

You are my hiding place!
You protect me from trouble
and you put songs in my heart
because you have saved me.

You said to me,
"I will point out the road
that you should follow.
I will be your teacher
and watch over you.
Don’t be stupid
like horses and mules
that must be led with ropes
to make them obey."

All kinds of troubles
will strike the wicked,
but your kindness shields those
who trust you, LORD.

And so your good people
should celebrate and shout.
Psalm 32

Click Here for Prayers of Praise