₁Be merciful to me, O God,

because of your constant love.

Because of your great mercy

wipe away my sins!

₂Wash away all my evil

and make me clean from my sin!

₃I recognize my faults;

I am always conscious of my sins.

₄I have sinned against you — only against you —

and done what you consider evil.

So you are right in judging me;

you are justified in condemning me.

₅I have been evil from the day I was born;

from the time I was conceived, I have been sinful.

₆Sincerity and truth are what you require;

fill my mind with your wisdom.

₇Remove my sin, and I will be clean;

wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

₈Let me hear the sounds of joy and gladness;

and though you have crushed me and broken me,

I will be happy once again.

₉Close your eyes to my sins

and wipe out all my evil.

₁₀Create a pure heart in me, O God,

and put a new and loyal spirit in me.

₁₁Do not banish me from your presence;

do not take your Holy Spirit away from me.

₁₂Give me again the joy that comes from your salvation,

and make me willing to obey you.

₉How can young people keep their lives pure?

By obeying your commands.

₁₀With all my heart I try to serve you;

keep me from disobeying your commandments.

₁₁I keep your law in my heart,

so that I will not sin against you.

₁₂I praise you, O LORD;

teach me your ways.

₁₃I will repeat aloud

all the laws you have given.

₁₄I delight in following your commands

more than in having great wealth.

₁₅I study your instructions;

I examine your teachings.

₁₆I take pleasure in your laws;

your commands I will not forget.