The day of Atonement was the day when you did this. You fasted and went around beating your breast because of the pain in your soul. His plea He asks for mercy from God. As far as he is concerned he's the only sinner before God. That is genuine humility.
Propitiated means be satisfied.
He knew that only God could help him be righteous. Jesus Christ was the answer to this man's prayer. This word for propitiation is the word used to describe the mercy seat - the lid on the ark of the covenant. The ark contained the ten commandments. All year long the people broke the law, and then on the day of atonement, blood was spread on the mercy seat to cover the sins of the people.