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Louveciennes in the Snow. Alfred Sisley, 1872. Wikimedia Commons. Public domain.

Psalm 51

19 verses · Penitential psalm

Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your loving devotion; according to Your great compassion, blot out my transgressions.

The line breaks below follow the poem's own punctuation.

Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your loving devotion; according to Your great compassion, blot out my transgressions.

Wash me clean of my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

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

Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You may be proved right when You speak and blameless when You judge.

Surely I was brought forth in iniquity;I was sinful when my mother conceived me.

Surely You desire truth in the inmost being;You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

Purify me 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 rejoice.

Hide Your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities.

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

Cast me not away from Your presence; take not Your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and sustain me with a willing spirit.

Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will return to You.

Deliver me from bloodguilt, O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing of Your righteousness.

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

For You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;You take no pleasure in burnt offerings.

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

In Your good pleasure, cause Zion to prosper; build up the walls of Jerusalem.

Then You will delight in righteous sacrifices, in whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on Your altar.

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