Psalm 51

¹ HAVE mercy upon me, O God, after thy great goodness * according to the multitude of thy mercies do away mine offences.

² Wash me throughly from my wickedness * and cleanse me from my sin.

³ For I acknowledge my faults * and my sin is ever before me.

⁴ Against thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight * that thou mightest be justified in thy saying, and clear when thou art judged.

⁵ Behold, I was shapen in wickedness * and in sin hath my mother conceived me.

⁶ But lo, thou requirest truth in the inward parts: and shalt make me to understand wisdom secretly.

⁷ Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean * thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

⁸ Thou shalt make me hear of joy and gladness * that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

⁹ Turn thy face from my sins * and put out all my misdeeds.

¹⁰ Make me a clean heart, O God * and renew a right spirit within me.

¹¹ Cast me not away from thy presence * and take not thy holy Spirit from me.

¹² O give me the comfort of thy help again * and stablish me with thy free Spirit.

¹³ Then shall I teach thy ways unto the wicked * and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

¹⁴ Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, thou that art the God of my health * and my tongue shall sing of thy righteousness.

¹⁵ Thou shalt open my lips, O Lord * and my mouth shall shew thy praise.

¹⁶ For thou desirest no sacrifice, else would I give it thee * but thou delightest not in burnt-offerings.

¹⁷ The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit * a broken and contrite heart, O God, shalt thou not despise.

¹⁸ O be favourable and gracious unto Sion * build thou the walls of Jerusalem.

¹⁹ Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness, with the burnt-offerings and oblations * then shall they offer young bullocks upon thine altar.