"But the tax collector,standingsome distance away,was evenunwillingto liftup his eyesto heaven,but was beatinghis breast,saying,'God,be mercifulto me, the sinner!'
Then Davidsaidto Nathan,"I have sinnedagainst the LORD."And Nathansaidto David,"The LORDalsohas takenawayyour sin;you shall not die.
His prayeralso and [how God] was entreatedby him, and allhis sin,his unfaithfulness,and the siteson whichhe builthighplacesand erectedthe Asherimand the carvedimages,beforehe humbledhimself, behold,they are writtenin the recordsof the Hozai.
Moreover, he did not humblehimself beforethe LORDas his fatherManassehhad done,but Amonmultipliedguilt.
and I said,"O my God,I am ashamedand embarrassedto liftup my faceto You, my God,for our iniquitieshave risenaboveour headsand our guilthas grownevento the heavens.
ThereforeI retract,And I repentin dustand ashes."
We have sinnedlikeour fathers,We have committediniquity,we have behavedwickedly.
May Your lovingkindnessesalso cometo me, O LORD,Your salvationaccording to Your word;
O Israel,hopein the LORD;For with the LORDthere is lovingkindness,And with Him is abundantredemption.
For Your name'ssake,O LORD,Pardonmy iniquity,for it is great.
Do not rememberthe sinsof my youthor my transgressions;According to Your lovingkindnessrememberme, For Your goodness'sake,O LORD.
For evilsbeyondnumberhave surroundedme; My iniquitieshave overtakenme, so that I am not ableto see;They are morenumerousthanthe hairsof my head,And my hearthas failedme.
As for me, I said,"O LORD,be graciousto me; Healmy soul,for I have sinnedagainst You."
When allthe peoplesawthe pillarof cloudstandingat the entranceof the tent,allthe peoplewould ariseand worship,eachat the entranceof his tent.
"Comenow,and let us reasontogether," Saysthe LORD,"Thoughyour sinsare as scarlet,They will be as whiteas snow;Thoughthey are redlike crimson,They will be like wool.
Then I said,"Woeis me, for I am ruined!BecauseI am a manof uncleanlips,And I liveamonga peopleof uncleanlips;For my eyeshave seenthe King,the LORDof hosts."
"For My handmadeallthesethings,Thus allthesethingscameinto being,"declaresthe LORD."But to thisoneI will look,To him whois humbleand contriteof spirit,and whotremblesat My word.
so that you may rememberand be ashamedand neveropenyour mouthanymorebecauseof your humiliation,when I have forgivenyou for allthat you have done,"the LordGODdeclares.
we have sinned,committediniquity,actedwickedlyand rebelled,even turningasidefrom Your commandmentsand ordinances.
Philipand Bartholomew;Thomasand Matthewthe tax collector;Jamesthe son of Alphaeus,and Thaddaeus;
"Whenyou pray,you are not to be likethe hypocrites;for they loveto standand prayin the synagoguesand on the streetcornerssothat they may be seenby men.TrulyI sayto you, they havetheir rewardin full.
"But goand learnwhatthis means:I DESIRECOMPASSION,AND NOT SACRIFICE,'for I did not cometo callthe righteous,but sinners."
"Wheneveryou standpraying,forgive,ifyou haveanythingagainstanyone,sothat your Fatherwhois in heavenwill alsoforgiveyou your transgressions.
As He entereda village,tenleprousmenwhostoodat a distancemetHim;
And He withdrewfrom them abouta stone'sthrow,and He kneltdownand [began] to pray,
And allthe crowdswho came togetherfor thisspectacle,when they observedwhat had happened,[began] to return,beatingtheir breasts.
But when SimonPetersaw[that], he fell downat Jesus'feet,saying,"Go awayfrom me Lord,for I ama sinfulman,O Lord!"
Nowwhen they heard[this], they were piercedto the heart,and saidto Peterand the restof the apostles,"Brethren,whatshall we do?"
But GoddemonstratesHis ownlovetowardus, in that while we were yetsinners,Christdiedfor us.
For beholdwhatearnestnessthisvery thing,thisgodlysorrow,has producedin you: whatvindicationof yourselves, whatindignation,whatfear,whatlonging,whatzeal,whatavenging of wrong!In everythingyou demonstratedyourselvesto be innocentin the matter.
It is a trustworthystatement,deservingfullacceptance,that ChristJesuscameinto the worldto savesinners,among whomI amforemost[of all].
Thereforelet us draw nearwith confidenceto the throneof grace,sothat we may receivemercyand findgraceto helpin time of need.
"FOR I WILL BE MERCIFULTO THEIR INIQUITIES,AND I WILL REMEMBERTHEIR SINSNOMORE."
