Psalm 51

W. W. J. VanOene, 1972; rev.

1. God, hear my plea, be merciful to me;
   Treat me according to Thy loving-kindness.
   Blot out my misdeeds, done in sinful blindness,
   So that again Thy mercy I may see.
   All my offences in Thy grace forgive,
   And wash away the guilt of my transgression,
   That I may free from taint of evil live;
   LORD, from my sin cleanse me in Thy compassion.
   
2. All my transgressions do I know within,
   And all my sin is constantly before me.
   Let Thy abundant mercy then restore me;
   Against Thee, LORD, Thee only, did I sin.
   I have committed evil in Thy sight;
   I know that Thou art righteous in Thy dealings.
   Thy sentence, LORD, is wholly justified,
   Thy judgment blameless, righteousness revealing.
   
3. Behold, I was in sinfulness conceived,
   And in iniquity my mother bore me.
   Thou dost desire that I should walk before Thee
   And in my inmost heart Thy truth receive.
   Purge me with hyssop: clean shall I then be;
   Wash me to whiteness snow can never capture.
   Grant joy and gladness so that unto Thee
   Bones Thou hast broken shout again with rapture.
   
4. O God, hide Thou Thy face from all my sins,
   Blot out all my iniquities that grieve Thee.
   Create in me a clean heart; do not leave me.
   Renew my spirit, make it strong again.
   O from Thy presence cast me not away;
   Let nought me from Thy Holy Spirit sever.
   Let joy of Thy salvation with me stay,
   Uphold me with a willing spirit ever.
   
5. Then to transgressors I will teach Thy ways,
   And sinners will return to seek Thy favor.
   O LORD, me from bloodguiltiness deliver,
   That I may sing aloud unto Thy praise.
   Then unto Thee shall I my tribute bring,
   O God of my salvation, my Deliv’rer.
   LORD, open Thou my lips, and I shall sing
   My songs of praise to Thee, salvation’s Giver.
   
6. Thou, LORD, in sacrifice hast no delight;
   If I should with oblations try to please Thee,
   With my burnt off’rings seeking to appease Thee,
   Then I would find no favor in Thy sight.
   One gift alone is pleasing in God’s eyes:
   The contrite heart of one who has repented.
   A broken spirit Thou wilt not despise
   When as a sacrifice to Thee presented.
   
7. O God, behold Thy city from above;
   Make Zion prosper, LORD, in Thy good pleasure.
   Safeguard Jerusalem, Thy pride and treasure,
   And build its walls in Thy unfailing love.
   Then off’rings will find favor in Thy sight;
   Thou wilt be pleased with sacrifices proffered.
   In whole burnt off’rings Thou wilt then delight;
   Then on Thy altar bullocks will be offered.