Thursday, February 23, 2012

Psalm 51: A Psalm for Lent

#BCP #CEBTour (A Psalm in 2 Translations)

Psalm 51 (Book of Common Prayer)

1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your  loving-kindness; *
in your great compassion blot out my offenses.

2 Wash me through and through from my wickedness *
and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I know my transgressions, *
and my sin is ever before me.

4 Against you only have I sinned *
and done what is evil in your sight.

5 And so you are justified when you speak *
and upright in your judgment

6 Indeed, I have been wicked from my birth, *
a sinner from my mother's womb.

7 For behold, you look for truth deep within me, *
and will make me understand wisdom secretly.

8 Purge me from my sin, and I shall be pure; *
wash me, and I shall be clean indeed.

9 Make me hear of joy and gladness, *
that the body you have broken may rejoice.

10 Hide your face from my sins *
and blot out all my iniquities.

11 Create in me a clean heart, O God, *
and renew a right spirit within me.

12 Cast me not away from your presence *
and take not your holy Spirit from me.

13 Give me the joy of your saving help again *
and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit.

14 I shall teach your ways to the wicked, *
and sinners shall return to you.

15 Deliver me from death, O God, *
and my tongue shall sing of your righteousness, O God of my salvation.

16 Open my lips, O Lord, *
and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.

17 Had you desired it, I would have offered sacrifice; *
but you take no delight in burnt-offerings.

18 The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit; *
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

Psalm 51 (Common English Bible)

1 Have mercy on me, God, according to your faithful love!
 Wipe away my wrongdoings  according to your great compassion!

2 Wash me completely clean of my guilt;
purify me from my sin!

3 Because I know my wrongdoings,
my sin is always right in front of me.

4 I’ve sinned against you—you alone. I’ve committed evil in your sight.
That’s why you are justified when you render your verdict,
   completely correct when you issue your judgment.

5 Yes, I was born in guilt, in sin,
from the moment my mother conceived me.

6 And yes, you want truth in the most hidden places;
you teach me wisdom  in the most secret space.

7 Purify me with hyssop and I will be clean;
wash me and I will be whiter than snow.

8 Let me hear joy and celebration again;
let the bones you crushed rejoice once more.

9 Hide your face from my sins;
wipe away all my guilty deeds!

10 Create a clean heart for me, God;
put a new, faithful spirit deep inside me!

11 Please don’t throw me out of your presence;
please don’t take your holy spirit away from me.

12 Return the joy of your salvation to me
and sustain me with a willing spirit.

13 Then I will teach wrongdoers your ways,
and sinners will come back to you.

14 Deliver me from violence, God, God of my salvation,
so that my tongue can sing of your righteousness.

15 Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will proclaim your praise.

16 You don’t want sacrifices.
If I gave an entirely burned offering, you wouldn’t be pleased.

17 A broken spirit is my sacrifice, God.
You won’t despise a heart, God, that is broken and crushed.

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