Psalm

51 Show me favor, O God,* according to your loving-kindness.*+

According to the abundance of your mercies wipe out my transgressions.+

 2 Thoroughly wash me from my error,+

And cleanse me even from my sin.+

 3 For my transgressions I myself know,+

And my sin is in front of me constantly.+

 4 Against you, you alone, I have sinned,+

And what is bad in your eyes I have done,+

In order that you may prove to be righteous when you speak,+

That you may be in the clear when you judge.+

 5 Look! With error I was brought forth with birth pains,+

And in sin my mother conceived me.+

 6 Look! You have taken delight in truthfulness itself in the inward parts;+

And in the secret self may you cause me to know sheer wisdom.+

 7 May you purify me from sin with hyssop, that I may be clean;+

May you wash me, that I may become whiter even than snow.+

 8 May you cause me to hear exultation and rejoicing,+

That the bones that you have crushed may be joyful.+

 9 Conceal your face from my sins,+

And wipe out even all my errors.+

10 Create in me even a pure heart, O God,+

And put within me a new spirit, a steadfast one.+

11 Do not throw me away from before your face;+

And your holy spirit O do not take away from me.+

12 Do restore to me the exultation of salvation by you,+

And may you support me even with a willing spirit.+

13 I will teach transgressors your ways,+

That sinners themselves may turn right back to you.+

14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness,*+ O God the God of my salvation,+

That my tongue may joyfully tell about your righteousness.+

15 O Jehovah,* may you open these lips of mine,+

That my own mouth may tell forth your praise.+

16 For you do not take delight in sacrifice—otherwise I would give [it];+

In whole burnt offering you do not find pleasure.+

17 The sacrifices to God are a broken spirit;+

A heart broken and crushed, O God, you will not despise.+

18 In your goodwill do deal well with Zion;+

May you build the walls of Jerusalem.+

19 In that case you will be delighted with sacrifices of righteousness,+

With burnt sacrifice and whole offering;+

In that case bulls will be offered up on your very own altar.+