Psalm 51 - #8

Have mercy on me, O God,

according to You unfailing love;

according to Your great compassion

blot out my trangressions.

Wash away all my iniquity

and cleanse me from my sin.

For I know my trangressions,

and my sin is always before me.

Against You, You only, have I sinned

and done what is evil in Your sight,

so that You are proved right when You speak

and justified when You judge.

Surely I was sinful at birth,

sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

Surely You desire truth in the inner parts;

You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;

wash me, and I will be whiter than the snow.

Let me hear joy and gladness;

let the bones You have crushed rejoice.

Hide Your face from my sins

and blot out all my iniquity.

Create in me a pure heart, O God,

and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Do not cast me from Your presence

or take Your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation

and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,

and sinners will turn back to You.

Save me from bloodguilt, O God,

the God who saves me,

and my tongue will sing of Your righteousness.

O Lord, open my lips,

and my mouth will declare Your praise.

You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;

You do not take pleasurein burnt offerings.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;

a broken and contrite heart,

O God, You will not despise.

In Your good pleasure make Zion prosper;

build up the walls of Jerusalem.

Then there will be righteous sacrifices,

whole burnt offerings to delight You;

then bulls will be offered on Your altar.