Psalm 51
Words: The Psalter of the United Presbyterian Church of North America, 1887 ed.
There is also a Common Metre version of this Psalm on this page
1 Lord, to me compassion show,
As thy tender mercies flow;
In thy vast and boundless grace,
My transgressions all erase;
Wash me wholly from my sins,
Cleanse me from my guilty stains.
2 For my great transgression lies
Ever present to my eyes;
I have sinned 'gainst thee alone,
In thy sight this evil done;
That thy judgment may be clear,
And thy speaking just appear.
3 Lo, conceived was I in sin,
Born unholy and unclean;
Yet thou dost desire to find
Truth sincere within the mind,
And thou wilt within my heart
Wisdom unto me impart.
4 Wash from every guilty stain,
Cleanse with hyssop, make me clean;
Then from all pollution free,
Whiter than the snow I'll be.
Let me hear joy's cheering tones,
Making glad these broken bones.
5 From my sins hide thou thy face,
Blot them out in thy rich grace;
Free my heart, O God, from sin,
Spirit right renew within.
Cast me not away from thee,
Nor thy Spirit take from me.
6 Give salvation's joy again,
Let thy Spirit me sustain,
Then shall sinners, taught by me,
Learn thy ways and turn to thee.
Free me from the guilt of blood,
God, of my salvation God.
7 Freed from guilt, my tongue shall raise
Songs thy righteousness to praise;
Open thou my lips, O Lord,
Then my mouth shall praise accord;
Sacrifice thou wilt not take,
Else would I the off'ring make.
8 Sacrifice, or burnt-off'ring,
Can to thee no pleasure bring;
But a spirit crushed for sin,
Contrite, broken heart within,
Thine accepted sacrifice,
Thou, O God, wilt not despise.
9 Zion favor in thy grace,
Yea, Jerus'lem's ramparts raise;
Then shall sacrifices right,
Whole burnt-off'rings thee delight;
So shall men, their vows to pay,
Victims on thine altar lay.
1 In thy great loving-kindness, Lord,
Be merciful to me;
In thy compassion great blot out
All my iniquity.
2 O wash me thoroughly from sin;
Front all my guilt me cleanse:
For my transgressions I confess;
I ever see my sins.
3 'Gainst thee, thee only have I sinned,
Done evil in thy sight,
That when thou speak'st thou mayst be just,
And in thy judging right.
4 Behold, I in iniquity
My being first received;
And with a nature all corrupt
My mother me conceived.
5 Behold, thou in the inward parts
With truth delighted art;
And wisdom thou shalt make me know
Within the hidden part.
6 Do thou with hyssop sprinkle me,
And clean I then shall be;
I shall be whiter than the snow
When I am washed by thee.
7 Of gladness and of joyfulness
Make me to hear the voice,
That so these very bones which thou
Hast broken may rejoice.
8 All my iniquities blot out,
My sin hide from thy view.
Create a clean heart, Lord, in me
A spirit right renew.
9 And from thy gracious presence, Lord,
O cast me not away;
Thy Holy Spirit utterly
Take not from me, I pray.
10 The joy which thy salvation brings
Again to me restore;
With thy-free Spirit. O do thou
Uphold me evermore.
11 Then in thy ways will I instruct
Those that transgressors be,
And those that sinners are shall then
Return again to thee.
12 O God, of my salvation God,
Free me from guilt of blood;
Then of thy righteousness, O Lord,
My tongue shall sing aloud.
13 Lord, open thou my lips again,
Long closed by sin and shame;
And then thy praises with my mouth
I'll openly proclaim.
14 No sacrifice dost thou desire,
Else would I give it thee;
Nor wilt thou with burnt-offering
At all delighted be.
15 A broken spirit is to God
A pleasing sacrifice;
A broken and a contrite heart,
Lord, thou wilt not despise.
16 Show kindness, and do good, O Lord,
To Zion, thy own hill;
The walls of thy Jerusalem
Build up of thy good will.
17 Then righteous off'rings shall thee please,
And off'rings burnt which they,
With whole burnt-off'rings, and with calves,
Shall on thy altar lay.
