Psalm 51

Create in Me a Clean Heart, O God

51To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, when ^vNathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.

^1wHave mercy on me,¹ O God,

according to your steadfast love;

according to your ^xabundant mercy

^yblot out my transgressions.

^2zWash me thoroughly from my iniquity,

and ^acleanse me from my sin!

^3bFor I know my transgressions,

and my sin is ever before me.

^4cAgainst you, you only, have I sinned

and done what is evil ^din your sight,

^eso that you may be justified in your words

and blameless in your judgment.

⁵Behold, ^fI was brought forth in iniquity,

and in sin did my mother conceive me.

⁶Behold, you delight in truth in ^gthe inward being,

and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.

⁷Purge me ^hwith hyssop, and I shall be clean;

^zwash me, and I shall be ⁱwhiter than snow.

⁸Let me hear joy and gladness;

^jlet the bones ^kthat you have broken rejoice.

^9lHide your face from my sins,

and ^yblot out all my iniquities.

^10mCreate in me a ⁿclean heart, O God,

and ^orenew a right² spirit within me.

^11pCast me not away from your presence,

and take not ^qyour Holy Spirit from me.

¹²Restore to me the joy of your salvation,

and uphold me with a willing spirit.

¹³Then I will teach transgressors your ways,

and sinners will ^rreturn to you.

¹⁴Deliver me from ^sbloodguiltiness, O God,

O ^tGod of my salvation,

and ^umy tongue will sing aloud of your ^vrighteousness.

¹⁵O Lord, open my lips,

and my mouth will declare your praise.

^16wFor you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;

you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.

¹⁷The sacrifices of God are ^xa broken spirit;

a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

^18yDo good to Zion in your good pleasure;

^zbuild up the walls of Jerusalem;

¹⁹then will you delight in ^aright sacrifices,

in burnt offerings and ^bwhole burnt offerings;

then bulls will be offered on your altar.