To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone into Bathsheba.

8,6,8,6

^1After thy loving-kindness, Lord,

have mercy upon me:

For thy compassions great, blot out

all mine iniquity.

^2Me cleanse from sin, and throughly wash

from mine iniquity:

^3For my transgressions I confess;

my sin I ever see.

^4'Gainst thee, thee only, have I sinn'd,

in thy sight done this ill;

That when thou speak'st thou may'st be just,

and clear in judging still.

^5Behold, I in iniquity

was form'd the womb within;

My mother also me conceiv'd

in guiltiness and sin.

^6Behold, thou in the inward parts

with truth delighted art;

And wisdom thou shalt make me know

within the hidden part.

^7Do thou with hyssop sprinkle me,

I shall be cleansed so;

Yea, wash thou me, and then I shall

be whiter than the snow.

^8Of gladness and of joyfulness

make me to hear the voice;

That so these very bones which thou

hast broken may rejoice.

^9All mine iniquities blot out,

thy face hide from my sin.

^10Create a clean heart, Lord, renew

a right sp'rit me within.

^11Cast me not from thy sight, nor take

thy Holy Sp'rit away.

^12Restore me thy salvation's joy;

with thy free Sp'rit me stay.

^13Then will I teach thy ways unto

those that transgressors be;

And those that sinners are shall then

be turned unto thee.

^14O God, of my salvation God,

me from blood-guiltiness

Set free; then shall my tongue aloud

sing of thy righteousness.

^15My closed lips, O Lord, by thee

let them be opened;

Then shall thy praises by my mouth

abroad be published.

^16For thou desir'st not sacrifice,

else would I give it thee;

Nor wilt thou with burnt-offering

at all delighted be.

^17A broken spirit is to God

a pleasing sacrifice:

A broken and a contrite heart,

Lord, thou wilt not despise.

^18Shew kindness, and do good, O Lord,

to Sion, thine own hill:

The walls of thy Jerusalem

build up of thy good will.

^19Then righteous off rings shall thee please,

and off rings burnt, which they

With whole burnt-off rings, and with calves,

shall on thine altar lay.