Psalms 51

Create in me a clean heart

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.a ²Wash me clean of my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.b ³For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.c

⁴Against 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.d ⁵Surely I was brought forth in iniquity; I was sinful when my mother conceived me.e ⁶Surely You desire truth in the inmost being; You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.f

⁷Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.g ⁸Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones You have crushed rejoice.h ⁹Hide Your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities.i

¹⁰Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.j ¹¹Cast me not away from Your presence; take not Your Holy Spirit from me.k ¹²Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and sustain me with a willing spirit.l

¹³Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will return to You.m ¹⁴Deliver me from bloodguilt, O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing of Your righteousness. ¹⁵O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise.n

¹⁶For You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; You take no pleasure in burnt offerings.o ¹⁷The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.p ¹⁸In Your good pleasure, cause Zion to prosper; build up the walls of Jerusalem.

¹⁹Then You will delight in righteous sacrifices, in whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on Your altar.