1When David was rebuked by the Prophet Nathan, for his great offences, he
did not onely acknowledge the same to God with protestation of his natural corruption
and iniquitie, but also left a memorial thereof to his posteritie. 7Therefore
first he desireth God to forgive his sinnes, 10 And to renue in him his holie
Spirit, 13 With promes that he wil not be unmindeful of those great graces.
18 Finally fearing lest God wolde punish the whole Church for his faute, he
requireth that he wolde rather increase his graces towards the same.
To him that excelleth. A psalme of David, when the Prophet Nathana
came unto him, after he had gone in to Bath Sheba.
1 Have mercy upon me, ô God,b
according to thy loving kindnes: according to the multitude
of thy compassions put awaie mine iniquities.
2 Wash me [c]throughly from mine iniquitie: and clense me from my sinne.
3 For I [d]knowe mine iniquities, & my sinne is ever before me.
4 Against thee, against thee onely have I sinned, & done evil in thy sight, that thou maiest be juste when thou[e] speakest, and pure when thou judged.
5 Beholde, I was borne in iniquitie, and in sinne hath my mother conceived me.
6 Beholde, thou [f]lovest trueth in the inwardeaffections: therefore hast thou taught me wisdome in the secret of mine heart.
7 Purge me with *hyssope, and I shal be cleane: wash me, & I shalbe whiter then snowe.
8 Make me to heare [g] joy and gladnes, that the [h] bones which thou hast broken, maie rejoyce.
9 Hide thy face from my sinnes, and put awaie all mine iniquities.
10 [i]Create in me a clean heart, ô God, & renue a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not awaie from thy presence, and take not thine holie Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joye of thy salvacion, and stablish me with thy [k] fre Spirit.
13 Then shal I teache thy [l] waies unto the wicked, and sinners shal be converted unto thee.
14 Deliver me from[m] blood, ô God, which art the God of my salvation, and my tongue shal sing joyfully of thy righteousnes.
15[n]Open thou my lippes, ô Lord, and my mouth shal shewe forthe thy praise.
16 For thou desirest no sacrifice, thogh I wolde give it: thou delitest not in burnt offring.
17 The sacrifices of God are a[o]contrite spirit : a contrite & broken heart, ô God, thou wilt not despise.
18 Be favourable unto [p]Zion for thy good pleasure: buylde the walles of Jerusalem.
19 Then shalt thou accept the sacrifices of [q]righteousness, even the burnt-offring and oblation: then shal they offer calves upon thine altar.
[a]To reprove him because he had comitted so horrible sinnes, and lien in the same without repentance more then a whole yere.
[b]As his sinnes were manifold & great, so he requireth that God wolde give him the feling of his excellent and abundant mercies.
[c]My sinnes sticke so fast in me, that I have nede of some singular kinde of washing.
[d]My conscience accuseth me, so that I can have no rest, til I be reconciled.
[e]When thou givest sentence against sinners, thei must nedes confesse thee to be just and them selves sinners.
[f]He confesseth that God, who loveth purenes of heart, maie justely destroy man, who of nature is a sinner, much more him, whome he had instructed in his heavenlie wisdome Levit.14.6
[g]He meaneth Gods comfortable mercies towards repentant sinners.
[h]By the bones he understandeth all strength of soule and bodie, which by cares and mourning are consumed.
[i]He confesseth that when Gods Spirit is colde in us, to have it againe revived is as a new creation.
[k]Which maie assure me that I am drawen out of the slaverie of sinne.
[l]He promiseth to endevour that others by his example may turne to God.
[m]From the murder of Uriah, and the others that were slain with him, 2 Sam 11.17.
[n]By giving me occasion to praise thee, when thou shall forgive my sinnes.
[o]Which is a wounding of the heart, proceding of faith, which seketh unto God for mercie.
[p] He praieth for the whole Church, because through his sinne it was in danger of Gods judgement.
[q]That is, just & lawful, applied to their righte end, which is the exercise of faith & repentance.