Read the Bible

¹ Be merciful to me, O God,
    because of your constant love.
Because of your great mercy
    wipe away my sins!
² Wash away all my evil
    and make me clean from my sin!

³ I recognize my faults;
    I am always conscious of my sins.
^4 (b)I have sinned against you—only against you—
    and done what you consider evil.
So you are right in judging me;
    you are justified in condemning me.
⁵ I have been evil from the day I was born;
    from the time I was conceived, I have been sinful.

⁶ Sincerity and truth are what you require;
    fill my mind with your wisdom.
⁷ Remove my sin, and I will be clean;
    wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
⁸ Let me hear the sounds of joy and gladness;
    and though you have crushed me and broken me,
    I will be happy once again.
⁹ Close your eyes to my sins
    and wipe out all my evil.

¹⁰ Create a pure heart in me, O God,
    and put a new and loyal spirit in me.
¹¹ Do not banish me from your presence;
    do not take your holy spirit away from me.
¹² Give me again the joy that comes from your salvation,
    and make me willing to obey you.
¹³ Then I will teach sinners your commands,
    and they will turn back to you.

¹⁴ Spare my life, O God, and save me,^[b]
    and I will gladly proclaim your righteousness.
¹⁵ Help me to speak, Lord,
    and I will praise you.

¹⁶ You do not want sacrifices,
    or I would offer them;
you are not pleased with burnt offerings.
¹⁷ My sacrifice is a humble spirit, O God;
    you will not reject a humble and repentant heart.

¹⁸ O God, be kind to Zion and help her;
    rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
¹⁹ Then you will be pleased with proper sacrifices
    and with our burnt offerings;
    and bulls will be sacrificed on your altar.