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Psalm 51

Cleanse Me From My Sin

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For the choir director. A psalm by David.
When Nathan the prophet came to him after he had gone to Bathsheba.[a]

David’s Plea for Forgiveness

Be gracious to me, God,
    according to your mercy.
Erase my acts of rebellion
    according to the greatness of your compassion.
Scrub me clean from my guilt.
Purify me from my sin.

David’s Confession

For I admit my rebellious acts.
My sin is always in front of me.
Against you, you only, have I sinned,
and I have done this evil in your eyes.
So you are justified when you sentence me.
You are blameless when you judge.
Certainly, I was guilty when I was born.
I was sinful when my mother conceived me.

David’s Need for Renewal

Since you desire truth on the inside,
in my hidden heart you teach me wisdom.

Remove my sin with hyssop, and I will be clean.
Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness.
Let the bones you have crushed celebrate.
Hide your face from my sins.
Erase all my guilty deeds.
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God.
Renew an unwavering spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence.
Do not take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation.
Sustain me with a willing spirit.

David’s Pledge of Renewed Service

13 I will teach rebels your ways,
and sinners will turn to you.
14 Deliver me from bloodshed, O God,
    the God who saves me.
My tongue will shout for joy about your righteousness.
15 Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 For you do not delight in sacrifice,
or I would give it.
You do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
17 The sacrifices God wants are a broken spirit.
A broken and crushed heart, O God, you will not despise.

David’s Prayer for the People

18 As it pleases you, do good for Zion.
Build up the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then you will be pleased with righteous sacrifices,
    burnt offerings and whole offerings.
Then bulls will be offered up on your altar.

Psalm 51[a]

For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.(A)

Have mercy(B) on me, O God,
    according to your unfailing love;(C)
according to your great compassion(D)
    blot out(E) my transgressions.(F)
Wash away(G) all my iniquity
    and cleanse(H) me from my sin.

For I know my transgressions,
    and my sin is always before me.(I)
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)
Surely I was sinful(M) at birth,(N)
    sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
    you taught me wisdom(O) in that secret place.(P)

Cleanse(Q) me with hyssop,(R) and I will be clean;
    wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.(S)
Let me hear joy and gladness;(T)
    let the bones(U) you have crushed rejoice.
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.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 51:1 In Hebrew texts 51:1-19 is numbered 51:3-21.
  2. Psalm 51:17 Or The sacrifices of God are

The Rich Fool

13 Someone from the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 But Jesus said to him, “Man, who appointed me to be a judge or an arbitrator over you?”

15 Then he said to them, “Watch out and be on guard against all greed, because a man’s life is not measured by how many possessions he has.”

16 He told them a parable: “The land of a certain rich man produced very well. 17 He was thinking to himself, ‘What will I do, because I do not have anywhere to store my crops?’ 18 He said, ‘This is what I will do. I will pull down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and goods. 19 And I will tell my soul, “Soul, you have many goods stored up for many years. Take it easy. Eat, drink, and be merry.”’

20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool, this night your soul will be demanded from you. Now who will get what you have prepared?’

21 “That is how it will be for anyone who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

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The Parable of the Rich Fool

13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

14 Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” 15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”(A)

16 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’

18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’

20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool!(B) This very night your life will be demanded from you.(C) Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’(D)

21 “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”(E)

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Letter to the Church in Sardis

To the messenger of the church in Sardis write:

The one who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars says this:

I know your works. You have a reputation for being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what is left, which is about to die, for I have found that your works are not complete in the sight of my God. Therefore remember what you received and heard. Hold on to it and repent! If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come upon you.

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To the Church in Sardis

“To the angel[a] of the church in Sardis(A) write:

These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits[b](B) of God and the seven stars.(C) I know your deeds;(D) you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.(E) Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent.(F) But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief,(G) and you will not know at what time(H) I will come to you.

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Footnotes

  1. Revelation 3:1 Or messenger; also in verses 7 and 14
  2. Revelation 3:1 That is, the sevenfold Spirit

Call to Repentance and Closing Prayer

12 Even now, declares the Lord,
    return to me with all your heart,
    with fasting and weeping and grief.
13 Tear your heart and not your clothing.
    Return to the Lord your God,
    for he is gracious and compassionate,
    slow to anger and abounding in mercy,
    and he relents from sending disaster.
14 Who knows?
    He may turn and have pity and leave behind a blessing—
    grain offerings and drink offerings for the Lord your God.
15 Blow the ram’s horn in Zion.
    Set aside a day for fasting.
    Call a solemn convocation.
16 Gather the people.
    Consecrate the assembly.
    Bring together the elders.
    Gather the children, even those nursing at the breast.
    Let the bridegroom leave his room,
    and the bride her chamber.
17 Let the priests, who minister before the Lord,
    weep between the temple porch and the altar.
    Let them say:
        Have compassion on your people, O Lord.
        Do not subject the inheritance you have given us to the scorn of the nations.
        Do not make us notorious among the nations as an object of ridicule.[a]
        Why should they say among the peoples,
        “Where is their God?”

A Dialogue Between the Lord and the Prophet
The Lord’s Promises

18 The Lord is zealous for his land,
    and he will take pity on his people.
19 The Lord will respond to them:
        I am sending you grain, new wine, and fresh oil,
        enough to satisfy you fully.
        Never again will I subject you to scorn among the nations.

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Footnotes

  1. Joel 2:17 Or notorious so that the nations rule over us

Rend Your Heart

12 “Even now,” declares the Lord,
    “return(A) to me with all your heart,(B)
    with fasting and weeping and mourning.”

13 Rend your heart(C)
    and not your garments.(D)
Return(E) to the Lord your God,
    for he is gracious and compassionate,(F)
slow to anger and abounding in love,(G)
    and he relents from sending calamity.(H)
14 Who knows? He may turn(I) and relent(J)
    and leave behind a blessing(K)
grain offerings and drink offerings(L)
    for the Lord your God.

15 Blow the trumpet(M) in Zion,(N)
    declare a holy fast,(O)
    call a sacred assembly.(P)
16 Gather the people,
    consecrate(Q) the assembly;
bring together the elders,(R)
    gather the children,
    those nursing at the breast.
Let the bridegroom(S) leave his room
    and the bride her chamber.
17 Let the priests, who minister(T) before the Lord,
    weep(U) between the portico and the altar.(V)
Let them say, “Spare your people, Lord.
    Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn,(W)
    a byword(X) among the nations.
Why should they say among the peoples,
    ‘Where is their God?(Y)’”

The Lord’s Answer

18 Then the Lord was jealous(Z) for his land
    and took pity(AA) on his people.

19 The Lord replied[a] to them:

“I am sending you grain, new wine(AB) and olive oil,(AC)
    enough to satisfy you fully;(AD)
never again will I make you
    an object of scorn(AE) to the nations.

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Footnotes

  1. Joel 2:19 Or Lord will be jealous … / and take pity … / 19 The Lord will reply