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To: Kolokotronis; annalex; HarleyD; Forest Keeper

"Comments?"

Well, my comment would be to say that your words remind me that it's been too many weeks since my last confession! I'll go Wednesday evening...

The reference to David and Nathan the prophet reminds me of the fact that the most emphasized Psalm in the Orthodox Church is Psalm 50 (51 for those following a Hebrew numbering,) which is the Psalm that David wrote after his repentance before Nathan the prophet (We in the Orthodox Church actually now refer to the king David -- whose repentance was a model of completeness -- as the "Prophet David" because of the fact that the Psalter, especially in the LXX, is so full of references to the coming Christ.)

This Psalm recurs so much in our services and personal prayers that it is hard not to know it by heart.

Here is the translation from the LXX that our church and many others use (from the HTM Psalter). It has been said that just about everything one needs to know about the Orthodox spiritual life is contained in this one Psalm:

Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great mercy; and according to the multitude of Thy compassions blot out my transgression.

Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

For I know mine iniquity, and my sin is ever before me.

Against Thee only have I sinned and done this evil before Thee, that Thou mightest be justified in Thy words, and prevail when Thou art judged.

For behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sins did my mother bear me.

For behold, Thou hast loved truth; the hidden and secret things of Thy wisdom hast Thou made manifest unto me.

Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be made clean; Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow.

Thou shalt make me to hear joy and gladness; the bones that be humbled, they shall rejoice.

Turn Thy face away from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

Cast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.

Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation, and with Thy governing Spirit establish me.

I shall teach transgressors Thy ways, and the ungodly shall turn back unto Thee.

Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, Thou God of my salvation; my tongue shall rejoice in Thy righteousness.

O Lord, Thou shalt open my lips, and my mouth shall declare Thy praise.

For if Thou hadst desired sacrifice, I had given it; with whole-burnt offerings Thou shalt not be pleased.

A sacrifice unto God is a broken spirit; a heart that is broken and humbled God will not despise.

Do good, O Lord, in Thy good pleasure unto Sion, and let the walls of Jerusalem be builded.

Then shalt Thou be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, with oblation and whole-burnt offerings.

Then shall they offer bullocks upon Thine altar.


4,287 posted on 04/02/2006 1:06:42 PM PDT by Agrarian
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To: Agrarian

"This Psalm recurs so much in our services and personal prayers that it is hard not to know it by heart."

You'll be chanting/reciting/hearing it Wednesday night in fact!


4,290 posted on 04/02/2006 2:35:34 PM PDT by Kolokotronis (Christ is Risen, and you, o death, are annihilated!)
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