Psalms 51

Create in Me a Clean Heart, O God

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, when a Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.

b Have mercy on me,
Or Be gracious to me
O God,
according to your steadfast love;
according to your d abundant mercy
e blot out my transgressions.
f Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and g cleanse me from my sin!
h For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me.
i Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil j in your sight,
k so that you may be justified in your words
and blameless in your judgment.
Behold l I was brought forth in iniquity,
and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Behold, you delight in truth in m the inward being,
and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.
Purge me n with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
o wash me, and I shall be p whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness;
q let the bones r that you have broken rejoice.
s Hide your face from my sins,
and t blot out all my iniquities.
10  u Create in me a v clean heart, O God,
and w renew a right
Or steadfast
spirit within me.
11  y Cast me not away from your presence,
and take not z your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and uphold me with a willing spirit.
13  Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will aa return to you.
14 Deliver me from ab bloodguiltiness, O God,
O ac God of my salvation,
and ad my tongue will sing aloud of your ae righteousness.
15 O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
16  af For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;
you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are ag a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
18  ah Do good to Zion in your good pleasure;
ai build up the walls of Jerusalem;
19 then will you delight in aj right sacrifices,
in burnt offerings and ak whole burnt offerings;
then bulls will be offered on your altar.
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