1 Have Mercy upon me, O God,
according to Your steadfast love;
according to the multitude of Your tender mercy
and loving-kindness blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly [and repeatedly]
from my iniquity and guilt
and cleanse me and make me wholly pure from my sin!
3 For I am conscious of my transgressions
and I acknowledge them;
my sin is ever before me.
4 Against You, You only, have I sinned
and done that which is evil in Your sight,
so that You are justified in Your sentence
and faultless in Your judgment.
5 Behold, I was brought forth in [a state of] iniquity;
my mother was sinful who conceived me [and I too am sinful].
6 Behold, You desire truth in the inner being;
make me therefore to know wisdom in my inmost heart.
7 Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean [ceremonially];
wash me, and I shall [in reality] be whiter than snow.
8 Make me to hear joy and gladness and be satisfied;
let the bones which You have broken rejoice.
9 Hide Your face from my sins
and blot out all my guilt and iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right, persevering,
and steadfast spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from Your presence
and take not Your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation
and uphold me with a willing spirit.
13 Then will I teach transgressors Your ways,
and sinners shall be converted and return to You.
14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness and death, O God,
the God of my salvation,
and my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness
(Your rightness and Your justice).
15 O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth shall show forth Your praise.
16 For You delight not in sacrifice,
or else would I give it;
You find no pleasure in burnt offering.
17 My sacrifice [the sacrifice acceptable] to God
is a broken spirit;
a broken and a contrite heart
[broken down with sorrow for sin
and humbly and thoroughly penitent],
such, O God, You will not despise .
Psalm 51:1-17
