Psalms

Create in Me a Clean Heart, O God

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

1  Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.

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

3  For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.

4  Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.

5  Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.

6  Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.

7  Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

8  Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice.

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

10  Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

11  Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.

12  Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

13  Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.

14  Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.

15  O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.

16  For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.

17  The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

18  Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; build up the walls of Jerusalem; 19  then will you delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar.

Great Is Your Steadfast Love

A Prayer of David.

1  Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.

2  Preserve my life, for I am godly; save your servant, who trusts in you — you are my God.

3  Be gracious to me, O Lord, for to you do I cry all the day.

4  Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.

5  For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.

6  Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer; listen to my plea for grace.

7  In the day of my trouble I call upon you, for you answer me.

8  There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours.

9  All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name.

10  For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God.

11  Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name. 

12  I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever.

13  For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.

14  O God, insolent men have risen up against me; a band of ruthless men seeks my life, and they do not set you before them.

15  But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.

16  Turn to me and be gracious to me; give your strength to your servant, and save the son of your maidservant.

17  Show me a sign of your favor, that those who hate me may see and be put to shame because you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.