Reading From God's Word: A Text, a Prayer

I was very encouraged by this last week when I read it for my devotions.  I read it again this week.  It's a perfect prayer for preparing yourself for Sunday morning worship.

Psalms 51
Create in Me a Clean Heart, O God

51 To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, when vNathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.

1 wHave mercy on me,1 O God,

according to your steadfast love;

according to your xabundant mercy

yblot out my transgressions.

2 zWash me thoroughly from my iniquity,

and acleanse me from my sin!

3 bFor I know my transgressions,

and my sin is ever before me.

4 cAgainst you, you only, have I sinned

and done what is evil din your sight,

eso that you may be justified in your words

and blameless in your judgment.

5 Behold, fI was brought forth in iniquity,

and in sin did my mother conceive me.

6 Behold, you delight in truth in gthe inward being,

and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.

7 Purge me hwith hyssop, and I shall be clean;

zwash me, and I shall be iwhiter than snow.

8 Let me hear joy and gladness;

jlet the bones kthat you have broken rejoice.

9 lHide your face from my sins,

and yblot out all my iniquities.

10 mCreate in me a nclean heart, O God,

and orenew a right2 spirit within me.

11 pCast me not away from your presence,

and take not qyour Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,

and uphold me with a willing spirit.

13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,

and sinners will rreturn to you.

14 Deliver me from sbloodguiltiness, O God,

O tGod of my salvation,

and umy tongue will sing aloud of your vrighteousness.

15 O Lord, open my lips,

and my mouth will declare your praise.

16 wFor you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;

you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.

17 The sacrifices of God are xa broken spirit;

a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

18 yDo good to Zion in your good pleasure;

zbuild up the walls of Jerusalem;

19 then will you delight in aright sacrifices,

in burnt offerings and bwhole burnt offerings;

then bulls will be offered on your altar.

God bless!