Psalms 51:1-19
[1]Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins.
[2]Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin.
[3]For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night.
[4]Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just.
[5]For I was born a sinner— yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.
[6]But you desire honesty from the womb, teaching me wisdom even there.
[7]Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
[8]Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me— now let me rejoice.
[9]Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt.
[10]Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.
[11]Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.
[12]Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.
[13]Then I will teach your ways to rebels, and they will return to you.
[14]Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves; then I will joyfully sing of your forgiveness.
[15]Unseal my lips, O Lord, that my mouth may praise you.
[16]You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering.
[17]The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.
[18]Look with favor on Zion and help her; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
[19]Then you will be pleased with sacrifices offered in the right spirit— with burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings. Then bulls will again be sacrificed on your altar.