Psalm 50, the Prayer of Repentance

(51) For the end, a Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, when he had gone to Bersabee.

¹Have mercy upon me, O God, according to your great mercy; and according to the multitude of your compassions blot out my transgression.

²Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

³For I am conscious of my iniquity; and my sin is continually before me.

⁴Against you only have I sinned, and done evil before you: that you might be justified in your sayings, and might overcome when you are judged.

⁵For, behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sins did my mother conceive me.

⁶For, behold, you love truth: you have manifested to me the secret and hidden things of your wisdom.

⁷You shall sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be purified: you shall wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow.

⁸You shall cause me to hear gladness and joy: the afflicted bones shall rejoice.

⁹Turn away your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.

¹⁰Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit in my inward parts.

¹¹Cast me not away from your presence; and remove not your holy Spirit from me.

¹²Restore to me the joy of your salvation: establish me with your ¹ directing Spirit.

¹³Then will I teach transgressors your ways; and ungodly men shall turn to you.

¹⁴Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation: and my tongue shall joyfully declare your righteousness.

¹⁵O Lord, you shall open my lips; and my mouth shall declare your praise.

¹⁶For if you desired sacrifice, I would have given it: you will not take pleasure in whole burnt offerings.

¹⁷Sacrifice to God is a broken spirit: a broken and humbled heart God will not despise.

¹⁸Do good, O Lord, to Sion in your good pleasure; and let the walls of Jerusalem be built.

¹⁹Then shall you be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, ² offering, and whole burnt sacrifices: then shall they offer calves upon your altar.

1. Gr. governing.
2. Properly, a heave or wave-offfering.