Psalm 51

Stanley Wiersma, 1980

1. Be merciful, be merciful, O God.
   According to your steadfast love, have mercy.
   Blot out my sin in your abundant mercy.
   Wash all my sin away and make me clean.
   I know my sin; it will not leave my mind.
   Against you, only you, I have been sinning.
   So you are just in judging what I did.
   Even before my birth my life was tainted.
   
2. You want me truthful in my inmost heart;
   You teach me in my secret heart your wisdom.
   To wash me clean again, purge me with hyssop
   And make me whiter than new-fallen snow.
   Fill me with joy and gladness, make me sing,
   And let the bones you broke begin their dancing.
   O hide your face from sins that cause me shame.
   Blot out the stain of all my foul transgressions.
   
3. Create in me, O God, a new, clean heart
   And make my spirit pure and right within me.
   O do not cast me helpless from your presence.
   Your Holy Spirit must not go from me.
   Restore to me the joy of being yours.
   Uphold me with a free and willing spirit.
   Then I will teach transgressors of your ways.
   Then sinners will return again to serve you.
   
4. Deliver me from guilt of blood, O God.
   O God, you are the God of my salvation.
   My tongue will sing then that I am delivered.
   Open my lips, O Lord, to sing your praise.
   For you take no delight in sacrifice.
   You take no pleasure in the gifts I offer.
   A broken spirit is acceptable.
   You will not scorn a heart contrite and broken.
   
5. Be good to Zion; LORD, in mercy hear.
   The walls around Jerusalem lie broken.
   Rebuild the walls, LORD: help us to rebuild them.
   Be good to Zion; LORD, in mercy hear.
   Then you will take delight in us again,
   In gifts we bring to lay upon your altar.
   Then you will take delight in us again,
   In proper sacrifice and righteous service.