The Seven Penitential Psalms
Especially designated because in a very powerful way they awaken sorrow for sin in those who pray them.

Psalm 6, "O Lord, rebuke me not in your anger."
Do not reprove me in your anger, Lord,
      Nor punish me in your wrath.
Have pity on me, Lord, for my bones are trembling.
      In utter terror is my soul -- and you, Lord, how long...?
Turn, Lord, save my life; in your mercy rescue me.
      For who among the dead remembers you? who praises you in Sheol?

I am wearied with sighing; all night long tears drench my bed;
      my couch is soaked with weeping.
My eyes are dimmed with sorrow,
      worn out cecause of all my foes.

Away from me, all who do evil!
      The Lord has heard my weeping.
      The Lord has heard ny Prayer;
      the Lord takes up my plea.
My foes will be terrified and disgraced;
      all will fall back in sudden shame.


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Extracts from these psalms are used in the liturgy.

A line or two may be used as a meditation.
Psalm 38
"
O Lord rebuke me not in your anger."
Lord, punish me no more in your anger;
      in your wrath do not chastise me!
Your sorrows have sunk deep in me;
      your hand has come down upon me.
My flesh is afflicted because of your anger;
      my frame aches because of my sin.
My iniquities overwhelm me,
      a burden beyond my strength.

Foul and festering are my sores because of my folly.
      I am stooped and deeply bowed;
      all day long I go in mourning.
      My loins burn with fever;
      my flesh is afflicted.
      I am numb and utterly crushed;
      I wail with anguish of heart.
My Lord, my deepest yearning is before you;
      my groaning is not hidden from you.
My heart shudders, my strength forsakes me;
      the very light of my eyes has failed.
      Friends and companions shun my pain;
      my neighbors stand far off.
      Those who seek my life lay snares for me;
      they seek my misfortune, they speak of ruin;
      they plot treachery all the day.

But I am like the deaf, hearing nothing,
      like the dumb, saying nothing,
      Like someone who does not hear,
       who has no answer ready.
Lord, I wait for you; O Lord, my God, answer me.
For I fear they will gloat, exult over me if I stumble.

I am very near to falling; my pain is with me always.
      I acknowledge my guilt and grieve over my sin.
But many are my foes without cause,
      a multitude of enemies without reason,
      repaying me evil for good,
      harrassing me for pursuing good.
Forsake me not, O Lord; my God, be not far from me!
Come quickly to help me, my Lord and my salvation
Psalm 32
"
Blessed is he whose sin is forgiven."
Happy the sinner whose fault is removed,
      whose sin is forgiven.
Happy those to whom the Lord imputes no guilt,
      in whose spirit is no deceit.

As long as I kept silent, my bones wasted away;
      I groaned all the day.
For day and night
      your hand was heavy upon me;
    my strength withered as in dry summer heat.
Then I declared my sin to you;
      my guilt I did not hide.
I said, "I confess my faults to the Lord,"
      and you took away the guilt of my sin.
Thus should all your faithful
      pray in time of distress.
Though flood waters threaten,
      they will never reach them.
You are my shelter; from distress you keep me;
      with safety you ring me round.


I will instruct you and show you
      the way you should walk,
      give you counsel and watch over you.
Do not be senseless like horses or mules;
      with bit and bridle their temper is curbed,
      else they will not come to you.

Many are the sorrow of the wicked, but love       surrounds those who trust in the Lord.
Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you just;
      exult, all you upright of heart.
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