Tuesday, February 8, 2005

Psalm 51 (NRSV)

Read Psalm 51 on biblegateway.com

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

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

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

Verse ⁴Against 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.

Verse ⁵Indeed, I was born guilty, a sinner when my mother conceived me.

Verse ⁶You desire truth in the inward being; therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.

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

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

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

Verse ¹⁰Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.

Verse ¹¹Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me.

Verse ¹²Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit.

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

Verse ¹⁴Deliver me from bloodshed, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your deliverance.

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

Verse ¹⁶For you have no delight in sacrifice; if I were to give a burnt offering, you would not be pleased.

Verse ¹⁷The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

Verse ¹⁸Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem,

Verse ¹⁹then you will delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar.