Study Desk

For the choir director. A Davidic psalm, when Nathan the prophet came to him after he had gone to Bathsheba.^(a)

Be gracious to me, God, according to Your faithful love; according to Your abundant compassion, blot out my rebellion.^(b)

Wash away my guilt and cleanse me from my sin.^(c)

For I am conscious of my rebellion, and my sin is always before me.^(d)

Against You—You alone—I have sinned and done this evil in Your sight.^(e) So You are right when You pass sentence; You are blameless when You judge.^(f)

Indeed, I was guilty when I was born; I was sinful when my mother conceived me.^(g)

Surely You desire integrity in the inner self, and You teach me wisdom deep within.^(h)

Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.⁽ⁱ⁾

Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones You have crushed rejoice.^(j)

Turn Your face away^[a] from my sins and blot out all my guilt.^(k)

God, create a clean heart for me and renew a steadfast^[b] spirit within me.^(l)

Do not banish me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me.^(m)

Restore the joy of Your salvation to me, and give me a willing spirit.^[c](n)

Then I will teach the rebellious Your ways, and sinners will return to You.^(o)

Save me from the guilt of bloodshed, God,^(p) the God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing of Your righteousness.^(q)

Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise.^(r)

You do not want a sacrifice, or I would give it; You are not pleased with a burnt offering.^(s)

The sacrifice pleasing to God is^[d] a broken spirit. God, You will not despise a broken and humbled heart.^(t)

In Your good pleasure, cause Zion to prosper; build^[e] the walls of Jerusalem.^(u)

Then You will delight in righteous sacrifices, whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on Your altar.^(v)

For the choir director. A Davidic Maskil. When Doeg the Edomite went and reported to Saul, telling him, "David went to Ahimelech's house."^(a)

Why brag about evil, you hero!^(b) God's faithful love is constant.^(c)

Like a sharpened razor, your tongue devises destruction, working treachery.^(d)

You love evil instead of good, lying instead of speaking truthfully.^(e) Selah

You love any words that destroy, you treacherous tongue!^(f)

This is why God will bring you down forever. He will take you, ripping you out of your tent; He will uproot you from the land of the living.^(g) Selah

The righteous will look on with awe and will ridicule him:^(h)

"Here is the man who would not make God his refuge, but trusted in the abundance of his riches, taking refuge in his destructive behavior."^[a](i)

But I am like a flourishing olive tree in the house of God;^(j) I trust in God's faithful love forever and ever.^(k)

I will praise You forever for what You have done. In the presence of Your faithful people, I will put my hope in Your name, for it is good.^(l)

For the choir director: on Mahalath.^[a](a) A Davidic Maskil.

The fool says in his heart, "God does not exist." They are corrupt, and they do vile deeds. There is no one who does good.^(b)

God looks down from heaven on the human race to see if there is one who is wise, one who seeks God.^(c)

All have turned away; all alike have become corrupt. There is no one who does good, not even one.^(d)

Will evildoers never understand? They consume My people as they consume bread;^(e) they do not call on God.^(f)

Then they will be filled with terror— terror like no other^(g)— because God will scatter the bones of those who besiege you.^(h) You will put them to shame, for God has rejected them.⁽ⁱ⁾

Oh, that Israel's deliverance would come from Zion! When God restores the fortunes of His people,^[b] Jacob will rejoice; Israel will be glad.^(j)