A Prayer of Repentance
Have mercy upon me, O God,
According to Your lovingkindness;
According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,
Blot out my transgressions.
2ÂWash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
And cleanse me from my sin.
3ÂFor I acknowledge my transgressions,
And my sin is always before me.
4ÂAgainst You, You only, have I sinned,
And done this evil in Your sight—
That You may be found just when You speak,[a]
And blameless when You judge.
5ÂBehold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
And in sin my mother conceived me.
6ÂBehold, You desire truth in the inward parts,
And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.
7ÂPurge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8ÂMake me hear joy and gladness,
That the bones You have broken may rejoice.
9ÂHide Your face from my sins,
And blot out all my iniquities.
10ÂCreate in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11ÂDo not cast me away from Your presence,
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
12ÂRestore to me the joy of Your salvation,
And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
13ÂThen I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners shall be converted to You.
14ÂDeliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
The God of my salvation,
And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.
15ÂO Lord, open my lips,
And my mouth shall show forth Your praise.
16ÂFor You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it;
You do not delight in burnt offering.
17ÂThe sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,
A broken and a contrite heart—
These, O God, You will not despise.
18ÂDo good in Your good pleasure to Zion;
Build the walls of Jerusalem.
19ÂThen You shall be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness,
With burnt offering and whole burnt offering;
Then they shall offer bulls on Your altar.
Psalm 51, NKJV
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