Psalm 51

Have mercy on me, God, Jehovah, according
to your love and unfailing grace.
Because of your great and abundant compassion,
my sins can be wiped with no trace.

​Oh, thoroughly wash me and cleanse me from evil,
and take all my sins far away.
​Though I have acknowledged my sin and rebellion,
I'm haunted by guilt night and day.

Against you, alone, have I done what is wicked,
so, blameless your judgement has been.
Behold, I was brought from the womb full of evil,
conceived in my mother's own sin.

You surely crave truth for my soul's own discernment;
you teach my heart wisdom to know.
And I will be clean when you purge me with hyssop;
when washed, I'll be whiter than snow.

Allow me to take back my joy and my gladness;
these bones you have crushed, give them song.
Don't look at my sins with your just indignation,
but blot out those things I've done wrong.

Create in me, God, a clean heart, a right spirit,
renewed within me -- let it be.
​​Don't cast me away from your presence, and do not
take your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore within me every joy of salvation;
a willing and free spirit, too.
Then I'll teach transgressors your ways and instructions,
so sinners will turn back to you.

Forgive me of bloodshed, O God, my salvation;
my tongue sings of your righteous ways.
O LORD, I would ask you to open my lips so
my mouth can declare all your praise.

You don't want my sacrifice, else I would bring it;
you neither want offerings burned.
Your sacrifice, God, is a spirit that's broken;
contrite hearts will never be spurned.

With favor and pleasure, cause Zion to prosper;
the walls of Jerusalem, build.
Then you will be pleased with our sacrifice offered,
and blood of young bulls will be spilled.​