The Psalms 51

A Prayer for Cleansing

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, 2.1—0.1 ; 0.12 ; -15.15 after he had gone in to Bath–she’ba.

Have mercy upon me, O God,

according to thy loving-kindness:

according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies

blot out my transgressions.

Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity,

and cleanse me from my sin.

For I acknowledge my transgressions:

and my sin is ever before me.

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. Rom. 3.4

Behold, I was shapen in iniquity;

and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts:

and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean:

wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Make me to hear joy and gladness;

that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

Hide thy face from my sins,

and blot out all mine iniquities.

Create in me a clean heart, O God;

and renew a right spirit within me.

Cast me not away from thy presence;

and take not thy Holy Spirit from me.

Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation;

and uphold me with thy free Spirit.

Then will I teach transgressors thy ways;

and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God,

thou God of my salvation:

and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

O Lord, open thou my lips;

and my mouth shall show forth thy praise.

For thou desirest not sacrifice;

else would I give it:

thou delightest not in burnt offering.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit:

a broken and a contrite heart, O God,

thou wilt not despise.

Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion:

build thou the walls of Jerusalem.

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.

Published by The American Bible Society

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