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