Psalm 51 and Psalm 142

PSALM 51

¹   Have mercy on me, O God, 
          according to your steadfast love; 
     according to your abundant mercy 
          blot out my transgressions. 
²   Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, 
          and cleanse me from my sin.

³   For I know my transgressions, 
          and my sin is ever before me. 
⁴   Against you, you alone, have I sinned, 
          and done what is evil in your sight, 
     so that you are justified in your sentence 
          and blameless when you pass judgment. 

⁵   Indeed, I was born guilty, 
          a sinner when my mother conceived me.

⁶   You desire truth in the inward being; 
          therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart. 
⁷   Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; 
          wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 
⁸   Let me hear joy and gladness; 
          let the bones that 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 put a new and right spirit within me. 
¹¹  Do not cast me away from your presence, 
          and do not take your holy spirit from me. 
¹²  Restore to me the joy of your salvation, 
          and sustain in me a willing spirit.

¹³  Then I will teach transgressors your ways, 
          and sinners will return to you. 
¹⁴  Deliver me from bloodshed, O God, 
          O God of my salvation, 
          and my tongue will sing aloud of your deliverance.

¹⁵  O Lord, open my lips, 
          and my mouth will declare your praise. 
¹⁶  For you have no delight in sacrifice; 
          if I were to give a burnt offering, you would not be pleased. 
¹⁷  The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; 
          a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

¹⁸  Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; 
          rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, 
¹⁹  then you will delight in right sacrifices, 
          in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; 
          then bulls will be offered on your altar.

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PSALM 142

¹   With my voice I cry to the LORD; 
          with my voice I make supplication to the LORD. 
²   I pour out my complaint before him; 
          I tell my trouble before him. 
³   When my spirit is faint, 
          you know my way.

     In the path where I walk 
          they have hidden a trap for me. 
⁴   Look on my right hand and see — 
          there is no one who takes notice of me; 
     no refuge remains to me; 
          no one cares for me.

⁵   I cry to you, O LORD; 
          I say, “You are my refuge, 
          my portion in the land of the living.” 
⁶   Give heed to my cry, 
          for I am brought very low.

     Save me from my persecutors, 
          for they are too strong for me. 
⁷   Bring me out of prison, 
          so that I may give thanks to your name. 
     The righteous will surround me, 
          for you will deal bountifully with me.