Psalm 51

          David wrote the 51st psalm after Nathan rebuked him for his sins of
     murder and adultery.  It shows God's forgiveness for His people who
     sincerely repent of their sins.
          Surely, if God forgave David, He will also forgive us when we turn
     from our sins and live for Him.



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          "Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love;
            according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.

          "Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from
            my sin!

          "For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.
           Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil
           in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and
           blameless in your judgment.

          "Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my
            mother conceive me.

          "Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach
            me wisdom in the secret heart.

          "Purge  me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall
            be whiter than snow.

          "Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken
            rejoice.

          "Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.
            Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit
            within me.

          "Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy
            Spirit from me.

          "Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing
            spirit.

          "Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.

          "Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation,
            and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.

          "O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.

          "For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;
           you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.

          "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite
            heart, O God, you will not despise.

          "Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; build up the walls of
           Jerusalem;  then will you delight in right sacrifices, in burnt
           offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on
           your altar."

                                                         Psalm 51