PSALM 51
Miserere mei, Deus.

Have mercy upon me, O God, after | thy great goodness;

* according to the multitude of thy mercies do a- | -way mine offences.

2 Wash me throughly | from my wickedness,

* and | cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I ac- | -knowledge• my faults,

* and my sin is | ever before me.

4 Against thee only have I sinned, and done this evil | in thy sight;

* that thou mightest be justified in thy saying, and | clear when thou shalt judge.

5 Behold, I was | shapen• in wickedness,

* and in sin hath my | mother conceived me.

6 But lo, thou requirest truth in the | inward parts,

* and shalt make me to understand | wisdom secretly.

7 Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I | shall be clean;

* thou shalt wash me, and I shall be | whiter than snow.

8 Thou shalt make me hear of | joy and gladness,

* that the bones which thou hast | broken may rejoice.

9 Turn thy face | from my sins,

* and put | out all my misdeeds.

10 Make me a clean | heart, O God,

* and renew a right | spirit within me.

11 Cast me not away | from thy presence,

* and take not thy | holy Spirit from me.

12 O give me the comfort of thy | help again,

* and stablish me | with thy free Spirit.

13 Then shall I teach thy ways | unto• the wicked,

* and sinners shall be con- | -verted unto thee.

14 Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, thou that art the | God of• my health;

* and my tongue shall | sing of thy righteousness.

15 Thou shalt open my | lips, O Lord,

* and my | mouth shall show thy praise.

16 For thou desirest no sacrifice, else would I | give it thee;

* but thou delightest | not in burnt-offerings.

17 The sacrifice of God is a | troubled spirit:

* a broken and contrite heart, O God, | shalt thou not despise.

18 O be favourable and gracious | unto Sion;

* build thou the | walls of Jerusalem.

19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness, with the burnt-offerings | and oblations;

* then shall they offer young | bullocks• upon thine altar.

Glory be to the Father, and | to the Son,

* and | to the Holy Ghost,

As it was in the beginning, is now, and | ever shall be,

* world without | end.  Amen.