David's prayer after his sin with Bathsheba. He asks God to have mercy and blot out his transgressions, saying, against thee, thee only, have I sinned. He prays, Create in me a clean heart, O God, and says a broken spirit is the sacrifice God wants.
1 To the chief Musician , A Psalm of David , when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba . Have mercy upon me, O God , according to thy lovingkindness : according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions .
2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity , and cleanse me from my sin .
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions : and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned , and done this evil in thy sight : that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest , and be clear when thou judgest .
5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity ; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts : and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom .
7 Purge me with hyssop , and I shall be clean : wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow .
8 Make me to hear joy and gladness ; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice .
9 Hide thy face from my sins , and blot out all mine iniquities .
10 Create in me a clean heart , O God ; and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from thy presence ; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation ; and uphold me with thy free spirit .
13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways ; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness , O God , thou God of my salvation : and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness .
15 O Lord , open thou my lips ; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise .
16 For thou desirest not sacrifice ; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering .
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit : a broken and a contrite heart , O God , thou wilt not despise .
18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion : build thou the walls of Jerusalem .
19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness , with burnt offering and whole burnt offering : then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar .