Create in Me a Clean Heart, O God

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. When Nathan the prophet came to him after his adultery with Bathsheba.

¹ Have mercy on me, O God,

according to Your loving devotion;

according to Your great compassion,

blot out my transgressions.

² Wash me clean of my iniquity

and cleanse me from my sin.

³ For I know my transgressions,

and my sin is always before me.

⁴ Against You, You only, have I sinned

and done what is evil in Your sight,

so that You may be proved right when You speak

and blameless when You judge.

⁵ Surely I was brought forth in iniquity;

I was sinful when my mother conceived me.

⁶ Surely You desire truth in the inmost being;

You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

⁷ Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean;

wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

⁸ Let me hear^* joy and gladness;

let the bones You have crushed rejoice.

⁹ Hide^* Your 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 Your presence;

take not Your Holy Spirit from me.

¹² Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,

and sustain me with a willing spirit.

¹³ Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,

and sinners will return to You.

¹⁴ Deliver me from bloodguilt, O God,

the God of my salvation,

and my tongue will sing of Your righteousness.

¹⁵ O Lord, open my lips,

and my mouth will declare Your praise.

¹⁶ For You do not delight in sacrifice,^* or I would bring it;

You take no pleasure in burnt offerings.

¹⁷ The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;

a broken and a contrite heart,

O God, You will not despise.

¹⁸ In Your good pleasure, cause Zion to prosper;

build up the walls of Jerusalem.

¹⁹ Then You will delight in righteous sacrifices,

in whole burnt offerings;

then bulls will be offered on Your altar.