There was a hypocrite
Who, seeing that he had done much wrong
Said, “The LORD shall not exact from me
“This evil deed. I have murdered,
“Slandered my brother,
“I have stolen from him,
“And I have committed adultery
“Under every oak.
“LORD, I see I am justified by Your blessing
“Knowing I have sinned, You will not exact it from me.
“For, so I have committed offences,
“My grain offering shall be sufficient for the payment;—
“The fruit of my drink offerings and oblations poured into the ground.
“Yes, LORD You shall not visit me for this.
“Rather, when the bugle gets called
“I will enter into my heavenly abode.”
There was a righteous man
Seeing he had done much wrong
Who said, “LORD, I had defiled myself
“In the way. I have lain with two virgins
“Who were not my wife
“And I have defiled the covenant
“With the woman I was betrothed to.
“I had also done violence,
“And had lied for gain.
“I had spoken ill against You
“In my heart, and I had cursed my neighbor
“And I had falsely accused the innocent.
“LORD, I know certainly Your wrath
“Shall abide on me, until the day
“That these abominations are loosed from me,
“For how else, LORD, am I to be made clean?”
B. K. Neifert 