Create in Me a Clean Heart, O God
(2 Samuel 12:1–12)

1For the one directing. A Psalm of David, in the coming of Nathan the prophet to him after that he had gone in to Bathsheba.

1 Have mercy on me† O God,

according to Your loving devotion;

according to the abundance of Your compassion,

wipe out my transgressions.

2Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,

and cleanse me from my sin.

3For I know my transgressions,

and my sin is before me continually.

4Against You, You alone, have I sinned,

and have done the evil in your eyes,

so that you are right when You speak,

and pure when You judge.†

5Behold, in iniquity I was brought forth,

and in sin my mother conceived me.

6Behold, You take delight in truth in the inner parts;

in the inmost place You teach me wisdom.

7Purge my sin with hyssop, and I will be clean;

wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

8Make me hear joy and gladness;

let the bones You have crushed rejoice.

9May You hide Your face from my sins,

and wipe out all my iniquities.

10Create a clean heart in me, O God,

and renew a right spirit within me.

11Do not cast me away from before Your face,

and do not take away from me Your Holy Spirit.

12Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,

and uphold me by a willing spirit.

13I will teach transgressors Your ways,

and sinners will return to You.

14Deliver me from bloodguilt, O God,

the God of my salvation;

my tongue will sing of Your righteousness.

15O Lord, open my lips,

and my mouth will declare Your praise.

16For You do not take delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;

with a burnt offering You are not pleased.

17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit.

A heart broken and crushed,

O God, You will not despise.

18By Your pleasure, do good to Zion;

may You build up the walls of Jerusalem.

19Then You will delight in the sacrifices of righteousness,

a burnt offering and whole sacrifice;

then they will offer bulls upon Your altar.