Psalm 51

Here's my rendition of Psalm 51:

Look on me with a heart of mercy, O God, in line with your great compassion (fondness, mercy, cherished as if "from the womb").  Wipe away my sin and any consequences thereof.  Thoroughly wash me (cleanse me and purify) of all my sin (and my sin nature.) (Take away the consequences as a symbol of my return to purity.)

For I am fully aware of all I have done wrong and my guilt is there staring me in the face.  It was against you and you alone that I have sinned...and I did it right in front of you.

You are right:  when you speak, when you judge, your judgments are based on just causes and pure motives.  I, on the other hand, was guilty from the day I was born, a sinner from the time my mother became pregnant with me.  Despite my bad beginnings, you want desire and take pleasure in the following:

• faithfulness
• truth - in my testimony and in my judgment
• reliability
• truth - portrayed in ethical and religious knowledge.

And you want these things throughout my being, imbedded in who I am.  In those deep, unseen places show me wisdom.  Cleanse me of wickedness and I will be clean.  Wash me and I will be whiter than snow.  Let joy and happiness be my song so my bones can dance with delight.  Erase my guilt from the record.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew my spirit and sense of being so that I am steadfast and stable in who I am with you.  Do not throw me far away from your presence and do not remove your Holy Spirit from me.  Give back to me the deep delight of being saved by you; let your willing Spirit sustain me.

When you do, I promise to teach rebels your ways and help sinners find their way back to you.  My tongue, which once was used to tear down, will be used to sing with deep delight of how right and just you are!

O Lord, pry open my lips that this mouth will sing joyfully of your greatness.  I would surrender every prized possession...but you aren't interested in such sacrifices or burn offerings.  Instead, the sacrifice I offer is my broken spirit, one that honestly regrets the past.  This, you love and accept.