Psalms 51:7-17

7Splash water over me with a hyssop plant, and I will be really clean. Wash me and I will be whiter than snow.

8Please forgive me so that I can be happy. Then my whole body will feel well again.

9Hide your face from my sins. Clean away all the bad things that I have done.

10God, please make my heart new and clean. And make my spirit strong and true, deep inside me.

11Do not send me away from you. Do not take your Holy Spirit away from me.

12Give me joy again, because you have made me safe. Make me strong and ready to obey you.

13Then I will teach your ways to people who have turned against you. Then sinners will turn back and they will obey you.

14God, I am guilty of murder. Please forgive me! You are the one who saves me. When you rescue me, I will sing aloud about your righteousness.

15My Lord, help me to speak, and then I will praise you.

16I would be happy to offer sacrifices to you, but that is not what you really want. You do not want a burnt offering from me.

17You want me to be humble and sorry. That is the sacrifice that you want. When people are humble and they turn away from their sins, you will not refuse them.