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The Holy Bible

King James Version

The Book of Psalms

Psalm 51

  

A Penitent Prayer for Restoration

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.

1Have mercy upon me, O God,
according to thy lovingkindness:

according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies
blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin.   3 For I acknowledge my transgressions:
and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned,
and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest,
and be clear when thou judgest.5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. 6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts:
and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.   7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean:
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Make me to hear joy and gladness;
that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. 9 Hide thy face from my sins,
and blot out all mine iniquities.   10 Create in me a clean heart, O God;
and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from thy presence;
and take not thy holy spirit from me. 12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation;
and uphold me with thy free spirit.   13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways;
and sinners shall be converted unto thee. 14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God,
thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. 15 O Lord, open thou my lips;
and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. 16 For thou desirest not sacrifice;
else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit:
a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.   18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion:
build thou the walls of Jerusalem. 19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness,
with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.