To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bath-sheba.

1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: According unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: And my sin is ever before me.

4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: That thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; And in sin did my mother conceive me.

6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: And in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; That the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

9 Hide thy face from my sins, And blot out all mine iniquities.

10 Create in 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 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; And uphold me with thy free spirit.

13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; And sinners shall be converted unto thee.

14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: And my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

15 O Lord, open thou my lips; And my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.

16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: Thou delightest not in burnt offering.

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: A broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: Build thou the walls of Jerusalem.

19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: Then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.