Psalm 51

₁Have mercy on me, O God,

according to your steadfast love;

according to your abundant mercy

blot out my transgressions.

₂Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,

and cleanse me from my sin!

₃For I know my transgressions,

and my sin is ever before me.

₄Against you, you only, have I sinned

and done what is evil in your sight,

so that you may be justified in your words

and blameless in your judgment.

₅Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,

and in sin did my mother conceive me.

₆Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being,

and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.

₇Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;

wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

₈Let me hear joy and gladness;

let the bones that you have broken rejoice.

₉Hide your face from my sins,

and blot out all my iniquities.

₁₀Create in me a clean heart, O God,

and renew a right spirit within me.

₁₁Cast me not away from your presence,

and take not your Holy Spirit from me.

₁₂Restore to me the joy of your salvation,

and uphold me with a willing spirit.

₁₃Then I will teach transgressors your ways,

and sinners will return to you.

₁₄Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God,

O God of my salvation,

and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.

₁₅O Lord, open my lips,

and my mouth will declare your praise.

₁₆For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;

you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.

₁₇The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;

a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

₁₈Do good to Zion in your good pleasure;

build up the walls of Jerusalem;

₁₉then will you delight in right sacrifices,

in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings;

then bulls will be offered on your altar.