What then shall we say about David, who received such testimony? God said concerning him, “I found a man after my own heart, David son of Jesse; with eternal mercy I anointed him.”
Yet he too says to God: “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your great mercy, and according to the abundance of your compassion blot out my lawless deed.
Wash me even more from my lawlessness, and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my lawlessness, and my sin is always before me.
Against you alone have I sinned, and I have done what is evil before you, so that you may be justified in your words and prevail when you are judged.
For behold, I was conceived in lawlessness, and in sins my mother became pregnant with me.
For behold, you have loved truth; you made known to me the unseen and hidden things of your wisdom.
You will sprinkle me with hyssop, and I will be cleansed; you will wash me, and I will become whiter than snow.
You will make me hear joy and gladness; the bones that have been humbled will rejoice.
Turn your face away from my sins, and blot out all my lawless deeds.
Create a clean heart in me, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and strengthen me with a guiding spirit.
I will teach the lawless your ways, and the ungodly will turn back to you.
Deliver me from bloodshed, O God, the God of my salvation.
My tongue will rejoice in your righteousness. Lord, you will open my mouth, and my lips will proclaim your praise.
For if you had desired sacrifice, I would have given it; you will not delight in whole burnt offerings.
A sacrifice to God is a broken spirit; a broken and humbled heart God will not despise.”