Psalm 51: After thy loving-kindness, Lord
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone into Bathsheba.
Meter: C.M. (8,6,8,6)
1 After thy loving-kindness, Lord, have mercy upon me: For thy compassions great, blot out all mine iniquity.
2 Me cleanse from sin, and throughly wash from mine iniquity: 3 For my transgressions I confess; my sin I ever see.
4 ’Gainst thee, thee only, have I sinn’d, in thy sight done this ill; That when thou speak’st thou may’st be just, and clear in judging still.
5 Behold, I in iniquity was form’d the womb within; My mother also me conceiv’d in guiltiness and sin.
6 Behold, thou in the inward parts with truth delighted art; And wisdom thou shalt make me know within the hidden part.
7 Do thou with hyssop sprinkle me, I shall be cleansed so; Yea, wash thou me, and then I shall be whiter than the snow.
8 Of gladness and of joyfulness make me to hear the voice; That so these very bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
9 All mine iniquities blot out, thy face hide from my sin. 10 Create a clean heart, Lord, renew a right sp’rit me within.
11 Cast me not from thy sight, nor take thy Holy Sp’rit away. 12 Restore me thy salvation’s joy; with thy free Sp’rit me stay.
13 Then will I teach thy ways unto those that transgressors be; And those that sinners are shall then be turned unto thee.
14 O God, of my salvation God, me from blood-guiltiness Set free; then shall my tongue aloud sing of thy righteousness.
15 My closed lips, O Lord, by thee let them be opened; Then shall thy praises by my mouth abroad be published.
16 For thou desir’st not sacrifice, else would I give it thee; Nor wilt thou with burnt-offering at all delighted be.
17 A broken spirit is to God a pleasing sacrifice: A broken and a contrite heart, Lord, thou wilt not despise.
18 Shew kindness, and do good, O Lord, to Sion, thine own hill: The walls of thy Jerusalem build up of thy good will.
19 Then righteous off ‘rings shall thee please, and off ‘rings burnt, which they With whole burnt-off ‘rings, and with calves, shall on thine altar lay.