Chapter 51

Prayer for remission of sins, and the renewal of the Holy Spirit. (To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bath-sheba.)

1)Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness:loving-kindness; according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.

2)Wash me throughlythoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

3)For I acknowledge my transgressions:; and my sin is ever before me.

4)Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight:; that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

5)Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

6)Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts:; and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

7)Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean:; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

8)Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

9)Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

10)Create in 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 holyHoly spiritSpirit from me.

12)Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spiritSpirit.

13)Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

14)Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation:; and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

15)O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shewshow forth thy praise.

16)For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it:; thou delightest not in burnt offering.

17)The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit:; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

18)Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion:; build thou the walls of Jerusalem.

19)Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering:; then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.