1For the leader. A psalm of David, when Natan the prophet came to him after his affair with Bat-Sheva: God, in your grace, have mercy on me; in your great compassion, blot out my crimes.
2Wash me completely from my guilt, and cleanse me from my sin.
3For I know my crimes, my sin confronts me all the time.
4Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil from your perspective; so that you are right in accusing me and justified in passing sentence.
5True, I was born guilty, was a sinner from the moment my mother conceived me.
6Still, you want truth in the inner person; so make me know wisdom in my inmost heart.
7Sprinkle me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8Let me hear the sound of joy and gladness, so that the bones you crushed can rejoice.
9Turn away your face from my sins, and blot out all my crimes.
10Create in me a clean heart, God; renew in me a resolute spirit.
11Don't thrust me away from your presence, don't take your Ruach Kodesh away from me.
12Restore my joy in your salvation, and let a willing spirit uphold me.
13Then I will teach the wicked your ways, and sinners will return to you.
14Rescue me from the guilt of shedding blood, God, God of my salvation! Then my tongue will sing about your righteousness
15Adonai, open my lips; then my mouth will praise you.
16For you don't want sacrifices, or I would give them; you don't take pleasure in burnt offerings.
17My sacrifice to God is a broken spirit; God, you won't spurn a broken, chastened heart.
18In your good pleasure, make Tziyon prosper; rebuild the walls of Yerushalayim.
19Then you will delight in righteous sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then they will offer bulls on your altar.