# Psalm 51 To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. 
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1. Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. 
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2. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! 
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3. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. 
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4. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. 
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5. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. 
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6. Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. 
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7. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 
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8. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. 
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9. Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. 
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10. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. 
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11. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. 
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12. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. 
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13. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you. 
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14. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. 
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15. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. 
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16. For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. 
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17. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. 
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18. Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; build up the walls of Jerusalem; 
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19. then will you delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar. 

(ESV)