Read the Bible

¹ God, be merciful to me
    because of your faithful love.
Because of your great compassion,
    erase all the wrongs I have done.
² Scrub away my guilt.
    Wash me clean from my sin.
³ I know I have done wrong.
    I remember that sin all the time.
⁴ I did what you said is wrong.
    You are the one I have sinned against.
I say this so that people will know
    that I am wrong and you are right.
    What you decided is fair.
⁵ I was born to do wrong,
    a sinner before I left my mother's womb.
⁶ You want me to be completely loyal,
    so put true wisdom deep inside of me.
⁷ Remove my sin and make me pure.^[a]
    Wash me until I am whiter than snow!
⁸ Let me hear sounds of joy and happiness again.
    Let the bones you crushed be happy again.
⁹ Don't look at my sins.
    Erase them all.
¹⁰ God, create a pure heart in me,
    and make my spirit strong again.
¹¹ Don't push me away
    or take your Holy Spirit from me.
¹² Your help made me so happy.
    Give me that joy again.
    Make my spirit strong and ready to obey you.
¹³ I will teach the guilty how you want them to live,
    and the sinners will come back to you.
¹⁴ God, spare me from the punishment of death.^[b]
    My God, you are the one who saves me!
Let me sing about all the good things you do for me!
¹⁵     My Lord, I will open my mouth and sing your praises!
¹⁶ You don't really want sacrifices,
    or I would give them to you.
¹⁷ The sacrifice that God wants is a humble spirit.
    God, you will not turn away someone who comes with a humble heart and is willing to obey you.^[c]

¹⁸ God, please be good to Zion.
    Rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
¹⁹ Then you can enjoy the kind of sacrifices you want.^[d]
    You will receive whole burnt offerings,
    and people will again offer bulls on your altar.