Psalm 51

Have mercy on me O God in your great kindness:
   in the fulness of your mercy blot out my offences.

Wash away all my guilt:
   and cleanse me from my sin. 

For I acknowledge my faults:
   and my sin is always before me. 

Against you only have I sinned
   and done evil in your sight: 
 so that you are justified in your sentence, 
   and blameless in your judging.

Evil have I been from my birth:
    sinner I am from the time of my conception. 

But you desire truth in our inward being:
    therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart. 

Take hyssop, 
       sprinkle me with water and I shall be clean:
    wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 

Let me hear the sounds of joy and gladness: 
    that the bones you have broken may rejoice. 

Turn away your face from my sins:
    and blot out all my misdeeds. 

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

Do not cast me away from your presence: 
    do not take your holy spirit from me. 

Give me the joy of your help again: 
    and strengthen me with a willing spirit. 

Then will I teach transgressors your ways: 
    and sinners will turn to you again. 

Rescue me from bloodshed O God my saviour: 
    and my tongue shall sing of your deliverance. 

O Lord open my lips: 
    and my mouth shall proclaim your praise. 

You desire no sacrifice, or I would give it: 
    but you take no delight in burnt offerings. 

The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit: 
    a broken and contrite heart O God you will not despise. 

Let it be your pleasure to do good to Jerusalem: 
    to rebuild the walls of the city. 

Then will you delight in the appointed sacrifices, 
         in burnt offerings and oblations
    then will they offer young bulls upon your altar.