A Prayer of Repentance

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David (A)when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.

51 Have mercy upon me, O God,
According to Your lovingkindness;
According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,
(B)Blot out my transgressions.
(C)Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
And cleanse me from my sin.

For I acknowledge my transgressions,
And my sin is always before me.
(D)Against You, You only, have I sinned,
And done this evil (E)in Your sight—
(F)That You may be found just [a]when You speak,
And blameless when You judge.

(G)Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
And in sin my mother conceived me.
Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts,
And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.

(H)Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
Wash me, and I shall be (I)whiter than snow.
Make me hear joy and gladness,
That the bones You have broken (J)may rejoice.
Hide Your face from my sins,
And blot out all my iniquities.

10 (K)Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 51:4 LXX, Tg., Vg. in Your words

Psalm 51

Prayer for Cleansing and Pardon

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

Have mercy on me, O God,
    according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy,
    blot out my transgressions.(A)
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
    and cleanse me from my sin.(B)

For I know my transgressions,
    and my sin is ever before me.(C)
Against you, you alone, have I sinned
    and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are justified in your sentence
    and blameless when you pass judgment.(D)
Indeed, I was born guilty,
    a sinner when my mother conceived me.(E)

You desire truth in the inward being;[a]
    therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.(F)
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
    wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.(G)
Let me hear joy and gladness;
    let the bones that you have crushed rejoice.(H)
Hide your face from my sins,
    and blot out all my iniquities.(I)

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
    and put a new and right[b] spirit within me.(J)

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Footnotes

  1. 51.6 Meaning of Heb uncertain
  2. 51.10 Or steadfast