Psalms 51
David asks God for mercy and forgiveness for his sin with Bathsheba, acknowledging that he has sinned against God alone. He requests a clean heart and a renewed spirit, and promises to teach others about God's ways if he is forgiven. David also expresses that a contrite heart is more pleasing to God than sacrifices, and asks for God's kindness towards Jerusalem.
Unto the end. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he went to Bathsheba. Be merciful to me, O God, according to your great mercy. And, according to the plentitude of your compassion, wipe out my iniquityWash me once again from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sinFor I know my iniquity, and my sin is ever before meAgainst you only have I sinned, and I have done evil before your eyes. And so, you are justified in your words, and you will prevail when you give judgmentFor behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sinfulness did my mother conceive meFor behold, you have loved truth. The obscure and hidden things of your wisdom, you have manifested to meYou will sprinkle me with hyssop, and I will be cleansed. You will wash me, and I will be made whiter than snowIn my hearing, you will grant gladness and rejoicing. And the bones that have been humbled will exultTurn your face away from my sins, and erase all my iniquitiesCreate a clean heart in me, O God. And renew an upright spirit within my inmost beingDo not cast me away from your face; and do not take your Holy Spirit from meRestore to me the joy of your salvation, and confirm me with an unsurpassed spiritI will teach the unjust your ways, and the impious will be converted to youFree me from blood, O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue will extol your justiceO Lord, you will open my lips, and my mouth will announce your praiseFor if you had desired sacrifice, I would certainly have given it, but with holocausts, you will not be delightedA crushed spirit is a sacrifice to God. A contrite and humbled heart, O God, you will not spurnAct kindly, Lord, in your good will toward Zion, so that the walls of Jerusalem may be built upThen you will accept the sacrifice of justice, oblations, and holocausts. Then they will lay calves upon your altar
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