psalm 51:1-19

a	1 Have mercy upon me, O God,

b	according to thy lovingkindness:

b'	According to the multitude of thy tender mercies

a'	blot out my transgressions.

a	2 Wash me thoroughly

b	from mine iniquity,

b'	And from my sin.

a'	cleanse me

a	3 For my transgressions

b	I know

a'	And my sin

b'	is ever before me.

a	4 Against thee, thee only,

b	have I sinned,

b'	And that which is evil in thy sight;

a'	I have done

a'	So you are (That thou mayest be) justified

b	when thou speakest,

a'	And (be) clear (or blameless)

b'	when thou judgest.

a	5 Behold, in iniguity

b	I was brought forth

a'	And in sin

b'	did my mother conceive me.

a	6 Behold, thou desirest truth

b	in the inward parts;

b'	And in the hidden part

a'	thou wilt make me to know wisdom.

a.	7 Purify me with hyssop,

b	and I shall be clean:

a'	Wash me,

b'	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 a willing 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 show forth thy praise.

16 For thou delightest not in sacrifice;

Else would I give it:

Thou hast no pleasure in burnt-offering.

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit:

A broken and 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 will thou delight in the sacrifices

of righteousness,

In burnt-offering and in whole burnt-offering:

Then will they offer bullocks upon thine

altar. (ASV)