Psalm 51: Create in Me a Clean Heart

¹Have mercy on me, O God, according to your lovingkindness. According to the multitude of your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. ²Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. ³For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. ⁴Against you, you only, have I sinned and done this evil in your sight, so that you might be justified when you speak and be clear when you judge. ⁵Look, I was shaped in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me. ⁶Look, you desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part you will make me know wisdom. ⁷Purge me with hyssop, and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. ⁸Make me hear joy and gladness, so that the bones you have broken may rejoice. ⁹Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. ¹⁰Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. ¹¹Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your Holy Spirit from me. ¹²Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain me with your willing spirit. ¹³Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will be converted to you. ¹⁴Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, you God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. ¹⁵O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will show forth your praise. ¹⁶For you do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it. You do not delight in burnt offering. ¹⁷The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. A broken and a contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. ¹⁸Do good in your good pleasure to Zion. Build the walls of Jerusalem. ¹⁹Then you will be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering. Then they will offer bulls on your altar.