﻿Psalms.
Chapter 51.
For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. 
When Nathan the prophet came to him after his adultery with Bathsheba. 
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your loving devotion; according to your great compassion, blot out my transgressions. 
Wash me clean of my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. 
For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. 
Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be proved right when you speak and blameless when you judge. 
Surely I was brought forth in iniquity; I was sinful when my mother conceived me. 
Surely you desire truth in the inmost being; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place. 
Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 
Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. 
Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities. 
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. 
Cast me not away from your presence; take not your holy spirit from me. 
Restore to me the joy of your deliverance, and sustain me with a willing spirit. 
Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you. 
Deliver me from bloodguilt, O God, the God of my deliverance, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. 
O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. 
For you do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you take no pleasure in burnt offerings. 
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. 
In your good pleasure, cause Zion to prosper; build up the walls of Jerusalem. 
Then you will delight in righteous sacrifices, in whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar. 
