(A psalm by David for Jeduthun, the music leader.)
A Prayer for Forgiveness
1 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.”
2 I kept completely silent,
but it did no good,
and I hurt even worse.
3 I 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?
5 You made my life short,
so brief that the time
means nothing to you.
“Human life is but a breath,
6 and 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!
8 Save me from my sins.
Don't let fools sneer at me.
9 You treated me like this,
and I kept silent,
not saying a word.
10 “Won't you stop punishing me?
You have worn me down.
11 You 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.
13 Stop being angry with me
and let me smile again
before I am dead and gone.”
Par cilvēka niecību
1 Korvedim Jedūtūnam. Dāvida psalms .
2 Es teicu: sargāšu savus ceļus,
ka negrēkoju ar mēli,
sargāšu savu muti ar iemauktiem,
kamēr ļaundaris manā priekšā!
3 Mēms biju un kluss, un rāms pār mēru,
bet manas sāpes tik pieņēmās.
4 Gruzdēja sirds man krūtīs,
un es kunkstēju, jo uguns koda,
tad runāju ar savu mēli:
5 ļauj, Kungs, uzzināt manu galu
un manu dienu mēru – kāds tas? –
lai zinu, cik nīcīgs es!
6 Tik sprīžiem tu mēri manu dzīvi,
un mans mūžs tavā priekšā nekas.
Patiesi, cilvēks tik dvesma vien ir!
7 Patiesi, kā ēna cilvēks staigā,
patiesi, tik dvesma ir viņa pūles –
krāj un nezina, kam tiks.
8 Ko tagad lai gaidu, Kungs?
Mana cerība ir uz tevi!
9 Glāb mani no katra grēka,
nelgām par apsmieklu neliec mani!
10 Mēms biju un nevēru muti,
jo tu esi tas, kas dara.
11 Noņem man savu pārmācību –
tavas rokas ķerts, es nīkstu!
12 Rādams par grēkiem, tu cilvēku māci,
tu ēd kā kode to, kas tam tīk, –
patiesi, tik dvesma ir cilvēks!
13 Jel uzklausi manu lūgšanu, Kungs,
un manus saucienus dzirdi,
manās asarās neskaties klusēdams,
jo viesis esmu pie tevis
un piemitējs kā mani tēvi!
14 Novērsies, lai es atspirgstu,
pirms es aizeju un nav manis!
