A Prayer of Repentance
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David
#
when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.
1 Have mercy upon me, O God,
According to Your lovingkindness;
According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,
# Blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
And cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions,
And my sinisalways before me.
4 Against You, You only, have I sinned,
# And donethisevilin Your sight—
# That You may be found just when You speak,
Andblameless when You judge.
5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
And in sin my mother conceived me.
6 Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts,
And in the hiddenpartYou will make me to know wisdom.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
# Wash me, and I shall bewhiter than snow.
8 Make me hear joy and gladness,
# Thatthe bones You have brokenmay rejoice.
9 Hide Your face from my sins,
And blot out all my iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me away from Your presence,
# And do not take YourHoly Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
# And uphold mebyYourgenerous Spirit.
13 ThenI will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners shall be converted to You.
14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
The God of my salvation,
Andmy tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.
15 O Lord, open my lips,
And my mouth shall show forth Your praise.
16 ForYou do not desire sacrifice, or else I would giveit;
You do not delight in burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of Godarea broken spirit,
A broken and a contrite heart—
These, O God, You will not despise.
18 Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion;
Build the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then You shall be pleased withthe sacrifices of righteousness,
With burnt offering and whole burnt offering;
Then they shall offer bulls on Your altar.