Psalms 51
1 For the music director. A psalm of David.
2 When the prophet Nathan came to him, after David had slept with Bathsheba.
3 Have mercy on me, O God, because of your faithful love; because of your great compassion, wipe away my transgressions.
4 Wash me thoroughly of my guilt and cleanse me from my sin.
5 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.
6 Against you, you alone, I have sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are right when you speak and blameless when you judge.
7 Indeed, I was born in guilt, and my mother conceived me in sin.
8 Indeed, you desire truth in the inner being; in the hidden place you teach me wisdom.
9 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
10 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you crushed rejoice.
11 Hide your face from my sins and wipe away all my guilt.
12 Create a pure heart in me, O God; renew a steadfast spirit within me.
13 Do not cast me away from your presence; do not take your holy Spirit from me.
14 Restore to me the joy of your salvation; let a generous spirit sustain me.
15 I will teach your ways to transgressors; sinners will return to you.
16 Rescue me from bloodshed, O God, God of my salvation; my tongue will sing for joy about your righteousness.
17 Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.
18 For you do not desire sacrifice, or I would give it; you take no pleasure in a burnt offering.
19 The sacrifices God desires are a broken spirit; a broken and humbled heart, O God, you will not despise.
20 Do good to Zion according to your good pleasure; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
21 Then you will delight in righteous sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar.
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