PSALM 51
THE JOY OF TRUE REPENTANCE
Have mercy on me, O God, in your kindness.
In your compassion blot out my offence.
O wash me more and more from my guilt
and cleanse me from my sin.
In your compassion blot out my offence.
O wash me more and more from my guilt
and cleanse me from my sin.
My offences truly I know them;
my sin is always before me.
Against you, you alone, have I sinned;
what is evil in your sight I have done.
my sin is always before me.
Against you, you alone, have I sinned;
what is evil in your sight I have done.
That you may be justified when you give sentence
and be without reproach when you judge,
O see in guilt I was born,
a sinner was I conceived.
and be without reproach when you judge,
O see in guilt I was born,
a sinner was I conceived.
Indeed you love truth in the heart;
then in the secret of my heart teach me wisdom.
O purify me, then I shall be clean;
O wash me, I shall be whiter than snow.
then in the secret of my heart teach me wisdom.
O purify me, then I shall be clean;
O wash me, I shall be whiter than snow.
Make me hear rejoicing and gladness,
that the bones you have crushed may thrill.
From my sins turn away your face
and blot out all my guilt.
that the bones you have crushed may thrill.
From my sins turn away your face
and blot out all my guilt.
A pure heart create for me, O God,
put a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from your presence,
nor deprive me of your holy spirit.
put a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from your presence,
nor deprive me of your holy spirit.
Give me again the joy of your help;
with a spirit of fervour sustain me,
that I may teach transgressors your ways
and sinners may return to you.
with a spirit of fervour sustain me,
that I may teach transgressors your ways
and sinners may return to you.
O rescue me, God, my helper,
and my tongue shall ring out your goodness.
O Lord, open my lips
and my mouth shall declare your praise.
and my tongue shall ring out your goodness.
O Lord, open my lips
and my mouth shall declare your praise.
For in sacrifice you take no delight,
burnt offering from me you would refuse,
my sacrifice, a contrite spirit.
A humbled, contrite heart you will not spurn.
burnt offering from me you would refuse,
my sacrifice, a contrite spirit.
A humbled, contrite heart you will not spurn.
In your goodness, show favour to Sion:
rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
Then you will be pleased with lawful sacrifice,
(burnt offerings wholly consumed),
then you will be offered young bulls on your altar.
rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
Then you will be pleased with lawful sacrifice,
(burnt offerings wholly consumed),
then you will be offered young bulls on your altar.
Among the penitential psalms this is one of the most important, because it captures the essence of true repentance.
The psalm grasps the real depths of sin and shows the way to restore relationship with God.
Aware of his own personal sin, David turns imploringly to God and asks for His mercy, that loving-kindness by which God reaches out with forgiveness and salvation to the sinner.
There is not one of us on earth without sin. Let us humbly accept our shortcomings this Lenten tide and turn towards the God of Mercy, and implore His forgiveness for our sins. Then let us do as Jesus told so many He forgave of their sins, "Go and sin no more." In other words, don't do it again. That is the simple acknowledgement we need to make for Divine Forgiveness; repentance and a changed life.
We can do it.
Blessings on your Lent!
DO YOU FEEL YOU HAVE SINNED? DO YOU KNOW THAT GOD IS THE ONLY ONE YOU CAN TURN TO?
WHY NOT CHANGE YOUR LIFE
FOLLOW THIS PRAYER SERVICE
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