³ For I know my transgressions,
    and my sin is always before me.^(I)
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned^(J)
    and done what is evil in your sight;^(K)
so you are right in your verdict
    and justified when you judge.^(L)
5 Surely I was sinful^(M) at birth,^(N)
    sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
⁶ Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
    you taught me wisdom^(O) in that secret place.^(P)

⁷ Cleanse^(Q) me with hyssop,^(R) and I will be clean;
    wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.^(S)
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;^(T)
    let the bones^(U) you have crushed rejoice.
⁹ Hide your face from my sins^(V)
    and blot out^(W) all my iniquity.

¹⁰ Create in me a pure heart,^(X) O God,
    and renew a steadfast spirit within me.^(Y)
11 Do not cast me^(Z) from your presence^(AA)
    or take your Holy Spirit^(AB) from me.
¹² Restore to me the joy of your salvation^(AC)
    and grant me a willing spirit,^(AD) to sustain me.^(AE)

¹³ Then I will teach transgressors your ways,^(AF)
    so that sinners^(AG) will turn back to you.^(AH)
14 Deliver me^(AI) from the guilt of bloodshed,^(AJ) O God,
    you who are God my Savior,^(AK)
    and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.^(AL)
15 Open my lips, Lord,^(AM)
    and my mouth will declare your praise.
¹⁶ You do not delight in sacrifice,^(AN) or I would bring it;
    you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
¹⁷ My sacrifice,^(AO) O God, is^[b] a broken spirit;
    a broken and contrite heart^(AP)
    you, God, will not despise.

¹⁸ May it please you to prosper Zion,^(AQ)
    to build up the walls of Jerusalem.^(AR)
19 Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous,^(AS)
    in burnt offerings^(AT) offered whole;
    then bulls^(AU) will be offered on your altar.

“Stand up, plead my case before the mountains;^(A)
    let the hills hear what you have to say.

² “Hear,^(B) you mountains, the Lord’s accusation;^(C)
    listen, you everlasting foundations of the earth.
For the Lord has a case^(D) against his people;
    he is lodging a charge^(E) against Israel.

³ “My people, what have I done to you?
    How have I burdened^(F) you?^(G) Answer me.
⁴ I brought you up out of Egypt^(H)
    and redeemed you from the land of slavery.^(I)
I sent Moses^(J) to lead you,
    also Aaron^(K) and Miriam.^(L)
5 My people, remember
    what Balak^(M) king of Moab plotted
    and what Balaam son of Beor answered.
Remember your journey from Shittim^(N) to Gilgal,^(O)
    that you may know the righteous acts^(P) of the Lord.”

⁶ With what shall I come before^(Q) the Lord
    and bow down before the exalted God?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
    with calves a year old?^(R)
7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,^(S)
    with ten thousand rivers of olive oil?^(T)
Shall I offer my firstborn^(U) for my transgression,
    the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?^(V)
8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
    And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly^(W) and to love mercy
    and to walk humbly^[a](X) with your God.^(Y)