A Psalm Of Saintly Virtue

Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,

whose sin is covered.

Blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputes no iniquity,

and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

When I declared not my sin, my body wasted away

through my groaning all day long.

For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me;

my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.

I acknowledged my sin to thee,

and I did not hide my iniquity;

I said, "I will confess my trangressions to the Lord";

then thou didst forgive the guilt of my sin.

Therefore let every one who is godly offer prayer to thee;

at a time of distress,

in the rush of great waters,

they shall not reach him.

Thou art a hiding place for me,

thou preservest me from trouble;

thou dost encompass me with deliverance.

Psalm 37 (RSV)