Psalms 51

Create in me a clean heart

Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins.a ²Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin.b ³For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night.c

⁴Against 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.d ⁵For I was born a sinner— yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.e ⁶But you desire honesty from the womb, teaching me wisdom even there.f

⁷Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.g ⁸Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me— now let me rejoice.h ⁹Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt.i

¹⁰Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.j ¹¹Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.k ¹²Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.l

¹³Then I will teach your ways to rebels, and they will return to you.m ¹⁴Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves; then I will joyfully sing of your forgiveness. ¹⁵Unseal my lips, O Lord, that my mouth may praise you.n

¹⁶You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering.o ¹⁷The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.p ¹⁸Look with favor on Zion and help her; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

¹⁹Then 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.