Psalms of David 51
51
PSALM LI.
S. M.
1Have mercy, Lord, on me,
As thou wert ever kind;
Let me, opprest with loads of guilt,
Thy wonted mercy find.
2-3Wash off my foul offence,
And cleanse me from my sin;
For I confess my crime, and see
How great my guilt has been.
4Against thee, Lord, alone,
And only in thy sight,
Have I transgress’d, and, though condemn’d,
Must own thy judgment right.
5In guilt each part was form’d
Of all this sinful frame;
In guilt I was conceiv’d, and born
The heir of sin and shame.
6Yet thou, whose searching eye
Doth inward truth require,
In secret didst with wisdom’s laws
My tender soul inspire.
7With hyssop purge me, Lord,
And so I clean shall be;
I shall with snow in whiteness vie,
When purified by thee.
8Make me to hear with joy
Thy kind forgiving voice;
That so the bones which thou hast broke
May with fresh strength rejoice.
9-10Blot out my crying sins,
Nor me in anger view;
Create in me a heart that’s clean,
An upright mind renew.
The Second Part.
11Withdraw not thou thy help,
Nor cast me from thy sight;
Nor let thy holy Spirit take
Its everlasting flight.
12The joy thy favour gives
Let me again obtain;
And thy free Spirit’s firm support
My fainting soul sustain.
13So I thy righteous ways
To sinners will impart,
Whilst my advice shall wicked men
To thy just laws convert.
14My guilt of blood remove,
My Saviour and my God;
And my glad tongue shall loudly tell
Thy righteous acts abroad.
15Do thou unlock my lips,
With sorrow clos’d and shame;
So shall my mouth thy wondrous praise
To all the world proclaim.
16Could sacrifice atone,
Whole flocks and herds should die;
But on such off’rings thou disdain’st
To cast a gracious eye.
17A broken spirit is
By most highly priz’d;
By him a broken contrite heart
Shall never be despis’d.
18Let Sion favour find,
Of thy good-will assur’d;
And thy own city flourish long,
By lofty walls secur’d.
19The just shall then attend,
And pleasing tribute pay;
And sacrifice of choicest kind
Upon thy altar lay.
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Psalms of David 51: MP1696
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First published 1696, improved 1698.
