King David in great sorow for his sinnes of adultrie and murder most seriously
prayeth God of his manifold mercies to remitte and purge al his offences, and
paines, due for them to restore unto him the grace of the Holie Ghost, lost
by his sinnes, that he may teach others (as indeede his singular example may
teach the whole world true penance) contrition of hart worthely to offer sacrifice,
for the whole Church.
1 Unto the end, a psalm of David,
2 when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had sinned with Bethsabee. [2 Kings 12.]
3. [1]Have mercy on me, ô God, according to thy great mercie. And according to the multitude of thy commiserations take away myne iniquitie.
4 [2] Wash me more amply from my iniquitie, and cleanse me from my sinne.
5 [3] Because I do know myne iniquitie: and my sinne is before me alwaies.
6 [4] To thee onely have I sinned, and have done evil before thee: that thou mayst be justified in thy words, and mayst overcome when thou art judged.
7 [5] For behold I was conceived in iniquities and my mother conceived me in sinnes.
8 [6] For behold thou hast loved truth: the uncertain and hidden things of thy wisdom thou hast made manifest to me.
9 [7] Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssope, and I shall be clensed: thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter then snow.
10 [8] To my hearing thou shalt geve joy and gladnes: and the bones humbled shall rejoice.
11 [9] Turn away thy face from my sinnes, and wipe away all my iniquities.
12 [10] Create a clean heart in me, ô God: and renew a right spirit in my bowels.
13 [11] Cast me not away from thy face; and thy Holie spirit take not from me.
14 [12] Render unto me the joy of thy salvation, and confirme me with the principal spirit.
15 [13] I Wil teach the unjust thy waies: and the impious shall be converted to thee.
16 [14] Deliver me from bloudes, ô God, the God of my salvation: and my tongue shall exult thy justice.
17 [15] Lord, thou wilt open my lippes: and my mouth shall declare thy prayse.
18 [16] Because if thou hadst desired sacrifice, I had verily given it: with holocauste: thou wil not be delighted.
19 [17] A sacrifice to God is an afflicted spirit: a contrite and humbled hart, ô God, thou wilt not despise.
20 [18] Deal favorably, ô Lord, in thy good will with Sion; that the walls of Jerusalem may be built up.
21 [19] Then shalt thou accept sacrifices of justice, oblations and holocaustes: then shal they lay calves upon thyne altar.