Psalms 51

Create in me a clean heart

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.a ²Wash away all 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 you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge.d ⁵Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.e ⁶Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place.f

⁷Cleanse 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 iniquity.i

¹⁰Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.j ¹¹Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.k ¹²Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.l

¹³Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you.m ¹⁴Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, you who are God my Savior, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. ¹⁵Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise.n

¹⁶You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.o ¹⁷My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.p ¹⁸May it please you to prosper Zion, to build up the walls of Jerusalem.

¹⁹Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous, in burnt offerings offered whole; then bulls will be offered on your altar.