1. To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bath-sheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving-kindness: according to the multitude of thy tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.
2. Wash me thoroughly from my 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 mayest 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 my 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 to 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 to thee.
14. Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, 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 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 to 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 thy altar.