We have recently explored forgiveness across major world religions. Today’s presentation is a small collection of common prayers of forgiveness drawn from each tradition.
Selichah (ברכת הסליחה - Blessing for Forgiveness) from the Amidah
סְלַח לָנוּ אָבִינוּ כִּי חָטָאנוּ,
מְחַל לָנוּ מַלְכֵּנוּ כִּי פָשַׁעְנוּ,
כִּי אֵל טוֹב וְסַלָּח אָתָּה.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה’, חַנּוּן הַמַּרְבֶּה לִסְלֹחַ.
Selach lanu Avinu ki chatanu, mechal lanu Malkeinu ki pasha‘nu, ki El tov ve-sallach Atah. Baruch Atah Adonai, chanun ha-marbeh lisloach.
Forgive us, our Father, for we have sinned; pardon us, our King, for we have transgressed; for You are a good and forgiving God. Blessed are You, Lord, gracious One who abundantly forgives.
Psalm 51 (“Have Mercy on Me, O God”) - A Prayer of Repentance
1-4 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.
10 - 12 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from Your presence or take Your spirit of holiness from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [Amen.]
Prayer of Saint Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. [Amen.]
Sayyid al-Istighfār (سَيِّدُ الْاِسْتِغْفَارِ - The Master Supplication for Forgiveness)
اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّي لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، خَلَقْتَنِي وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ، وَأَنَا عَلَىٰ عَهْدِكَ وَوَعْدِكَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ، أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا صَنَعْتُ، أَبُوءُ لَكَ بِنِعْمَتِكَ عَلَيَّ، وَأَبُوءُ بِذَنْبِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ.
Allāhumma anta rabbī, lā ilāha illā anta, khalaqtanī wa ana ʿabduka, wa ana ʿalā ʿahdika wa waʿdika mā istaṭaʿtu. Aʿūdhu bika min sharri mā ṣanaʿtu, abūʾu laka bi-niʿmatika ʿalayya, wa abūʾu bi-dhanbī, fa-ghfir lī, fa-innahu lā yaghfiru al-dhunūba illā anta.
O Allah, You are my Lord; there is no god but You. You created me and I am Your servant, and I uphold Your covenant and [my] promise to You as much as I am able. I seek refuge in You from the evil I have done. I acknowledge Your blessings upon me, and I acknowledge my sin, so forgive me, for there is none who forgives sins except You.
Duʿāʾ al-Maghfirah al-Shāmilah (دُعَاءُ الْمَغْفِرَةِ الشَّامِلَةِ - Dua of Comprehensive Forgiveness)
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي مَا قَدَّمْتُ وَمَا أَخَّرْتُ وَمَا أَسْرَرْتُ وَمَا أَعْلَنْتُ وَمَا أَنْتَ أَعْلَمُ بِهِ مِنِّي، أَنْتَ الْمُقَدِّمُ وَأَنْتَ الْمُؤَخِّرُ وَأَنْتَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
Allahumma-ghfir lī mā qaddamtu wa mā akhkhartu wa mā asrartu wa mā aʿlantu wa mā anta aʿlamu bihi minnī, anta l-Muqaddimu wa anta l-Muʾakhkhiru wa anta ʿalā kulli shayʾin qadīr.
O Allah, forgive me for what I have done in the past and what I may do in the future, what I have concealed and what I have disclosed, and whatever You know about me better than I do. You are the One Who brings forward and puts back, and You have power over all things.
Kshama Prarthana (क्षमा प्रार्थना - Prayer Asking Forgiveness)
त्वमेव माता च पिता त्वमेव
त्वमेव बन्धुश्च सखा त्वमेव ।
त्वमेव विद्या द्रविणं त्वमेव
त्वमेव सर्वं मम देवदेव ॥
क्षमस्व मां क्षमस्व मां क्षमस्व मां
ॐ क्षमस्व मां क्षमस्व मां क्षमस्व मां ॥
Tvameva mātā cha pitā tvameva Tvameva bandhuśh cha sakhā tvameva Tvameva vidyā draviṇaṃ tvameva Tvameva sarvaṃ mama devadeva Kṣhamasva māṃ kṣhamasva māṃ kṣhamasva māṃ Oṃ kṣhamasva māṃ kṣhamasva māṃ kṣhamasva māṃ
You alone are my mother and my father, You alone are my relative and my friend, You alone are my knowledge and my wealth, You alone are my everything, O God of gods. Forgive me, forgive me, forgive me. Om, forgive me, forgive me, forgive me.
Kshama Yachana (क्षमायाचना - Prayer for Forgiveness)
ॐ यन्तुनो देवः सविता क्षमेत्
यद् विश्वे देवा जरसे नयन्ति ।
तस्मै विश्वायुर्देवाय नमो नमः ॥
ॐ क्षमस्व माम् ।
ॐ क्षमस्व माम् ।
ॐ क्षमस्व माम् ॥
Oṃ yantuno devaḥ savitā kṣamet yad viśve devā jarase nayanti । tasmai viśvāyur-devāya namo namaḥ ॥ Oṃ kṣamasva mām । Oṃ kṣamasva mām । Oṃ kṣamasva mām ॥
Om, may the Divine Sun-God Savitā forgive us for whatever the gods of the universe lead us into through old age (or error). Salutations again and again to that God who grants universal life. Om, forgive me. Om, forgive me. Om, forgive me.
Threefold Forgiveness Meditation
If I have hurt or harmed anyone, knowingly or unknowingly, through body, speech, or mind, I sincerely ask their forgiveness. May I be forgiven.
If anyone has hurt or harmed me, knowingly or unknowingly, through body, speech, or mind, I freely and fully forgive them. May they be released from guilt and suffering.
For all the ways I have hurt or harmed myself, knowingly or unknowingly, out of fear, pain, or confusion, I now extend forgiveness to myself.
May I be at peace. May all beings be free from harm. May all beings be at peace.
Vajrasattva Purification Mantra (वज्रसत्त्व शोधन मन्त्र )
ॐ वज्रसत्त्व यभ समय मनुपालय
वज्रसत्त्व त्वेनोपतिष्ठ
दृढो मे भव
सुतोष्यो मे भव
सुपोष्यो मे भव
अनुरक्तो मे भव
सर्वसिद्धिं मे प्रयच्छ
सर्वकर्मसु च मे चित्तं श्रेयः कुरु हूँ
ह ह ह ह होः भगवन् सर्वतथागतवज्र मा मे मुञ्च
वज्री भव महासमयसत्त्व आः
Oṃ Vajrasattva samaya manupālaya Vajrasattva tvenopatiṣṭha Dṛḍho me bhava Sutoṣyo me bhava Supoṣyo me bhava Anurakto me bhava Sarva-siddhiṃ me prayaccha Sarva-karma-su ca me cittaṃ śreyaḥ kuru hūṃ Ha ha ha ha hoḥ Bhagavan sarva-tathāgata-vajra mā me muñca Vajrī bhava mahā-samaya-sattva āḥ
Om Diamond-Mind Being! Preserve the bond! Keep me steadfast in the commitment. Be pleased with me, be very pleased with me. Nourish and increase my devotion. Grant me all accomplishments. Make my mind virtuous in all actions. Hūṃ Ha ha ha ha hoḥ Blessed One, Indestructible Purity of all Buddhas, do not abandon me. Make me diamond-natured, O Great Being of the sacred bond! I am one with you.
