1 Have mercy, Lord, on me,
as thou wert ever kind;
Let me, oppressed with loads of guilt,
thy wonted mercy find.
2 Wash off my foul offence,
and cleanse me from my sin;
For I confess my crime, and see
how great my guilt has been.
4 Against thee, Lord, alone,
and only in thy sight
Have I transgressed, and tho' condemned,
must own my juugments right.
5 In guilt each part was formed
of all this sinful frame;
In guilt I was conceived, and born
the heir of sin and shame.
6 Yet thou; whose searching eye
doth inward truth require,
In secret didst with wisdom's laws
my tender soul inspire.
7 With hyssop purge me, Lord,
and so I clean shall be;
I shall with snow in whiteness vie,
when purified by thee.
8 Make me to hear with joy
thy kind forgiving voice;
That so the bones which thou hast broke
may with fresh strength rejoice.
9,10 Blot out my crying sins,
nor me in anger view;
Create in me a heart that's clean,
an upright mind renew.
The Second Part.
11 Withdraw not thou thy help,
nor cast me from thy sight;
Nor let thy holy Spirit take
its everlasting flight.
12 The joy thy favor gives
let me again obtain;
And thy free Spirit's firm support
my fainting soul sustain.
13 So I thy righteous ways
to sinners will impart,
Whilst my advice shall wicked men
to thy just laws convert.
14 My guilt of blood remove,
my Saviour and my God:
And my glad tongue shall loudly tell
thy righteous acts abroad.
15 Do thou unlock my lips,
with sorrow closed and shame;
So shall my mouth thy wondrous praise
to all the world proclaim.
16 Could sacrifice atone,
whole flocks and herds should die
But on such off'rings thou disdain'st
to cast a gracious eye.
17 A broken spirit is
by God most highly prized;
By him a broken contrite heart
shall never be despised.
18 Let Zion favor find,
of thy good-will assured;
And thy own city flourish long,
by lofty walls secured.
19 The just shall then attend,
and pleasing tribute pay;
And sacrifice of choicest kind
upon thy altar lay.