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A Prayer for Forgiveness[a]

51 
Be merciful to me, O God,

because of your constant love.

Because of your great mercy

wipe away my sins!

2 Wash away all my evil

and make me clean from my sin!

3 I recognize my faults;

I am always conscious of my sins.

4 I have sinned against you—only against you—

and done what you consider evil.

So you are right in judging me;

you are justified in condemning me.

5 I have been evil from the day I was born;

from the time I was conceived, I have been sinful.

6 Sincerity and truth are what you require;

fill my mind with your wisdom.

7 Remove my sin, and I will be clean;

wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

8 Let me hear the sounds of joy and gladness;

and though you have crushed me and broken me,

I will be happy once again.

9 Close your eyes to my sins

and wipe out all my evil.

10 Create a pure heart in me, O God,

and put a new and loyal spirit in me.

11 Do not banish me from your presence;

do not take your holy spirit away from me.

12 Give me again the joy that comes from your salvation,

and make me willing to obey you.

13 Then I will teach sinners your commands,

and they will turn back to you.

14 Spare my life, O God, and save me,[b]

and I will gladly proclaim your righteousness.

15 Help me to speak, Lord,

and I will praise you.

16 You do not want sacrifices,

or I would offer them;

you are not pleased with burnt offerings.

17 My sacrifice is a humble spirit, O God;

you will not reject a humble and repentant heart.

18 O God, be kind to Zion and help her;

rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

19 Then you will be pleased with proper sacrifices

and with our burnt offerings;

and bulls will be sacrificed on your altar.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 51:1 HEBREW TITLE: A psalm by David, after the prophet Nathan had spoken to him about his adultery with Bathsheba.
  2. Psalm 51:14 Spare my life … me; or O God my savior, keep me from the crime of murder.