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came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mayest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. 5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. [1] 6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. 9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. [2] 11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. 13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted to thee.
14 Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. [3] 15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall show forth thy praise. 16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it : thou delightest not in burnt offering. [4] 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. 18 Do good in thy good pleasure to Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem. 19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bulls upon thy altar.

PSALM 52.


To the chief Musician, Maschil, A Psalm of David, when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, and said to him, David is come to the house of Ahimelech.

Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually. [5] 2 Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully. 3 Thou lovest evil more than good; and lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah. 4 Thou lovest all devouring words, O thou deceitful tongue. [6] 5 God shall likewise destroy thee for ever, he shall take thee away, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling place, and root thee out of the land of the living. Selah. [7]
6 The righteous also shall see, and fear, and shall laugh at him: 7 Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness. [8] 8 But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever. 9 I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done it : and I will wait on thy name; for it is good before thy saints.

PSALM 53.


To the chief Musician upon Mahalath, Maschil, A Psalm of David.

The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good. [9] 2 God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God. 3 Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 4 Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread: they have not called upon God. 5 There they were in great fear, where no fear was: for God hath scattered the bones of him that encampeth against thee: thou hast put them to shame, because God hath despised them. [10] 6 O that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! When God bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad. [11]

PSALM 54.


To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, A Psalm of David, when the Ziphims came and said to Saul, Doth not David hide himself with us?

Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me by thy strength. [12] [13] 2 Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth. 3 For strangers have risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul: they have not set God before them. Selah.
4 Behold, God is my helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul. 5 He shall reward evil to my enemies: cut them off in thy truth. [14] 6 I will freely sacrifice to thee: I will praise thy name, O LORD; for it is good. 7 For he hath delivered me out of all trouble: and my eye hath seen its desire upon my enemies.

PSALM 55.


To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, A Psalm of David.

Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication. [15] [16] 2 Attend to me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise; 3 Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me. 4 My heart is greatly pained within me: and the terrors of death have fallen upon me. 5 Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me. [17] 6 And I said, O that I had wings like a dove! for then I would fly away, and be at rest. 7 Lo, then I would wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah. 8 I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.
9 Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city. 10 Day and night they go about her upon her walls: mischief also and sorrow are in her midst. 11 Wickedness is in her midst: deceit and guile depart not from her streets. 12 For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it : neither was it he that hated me that magnified himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: 13 But it was thou, a man my equal, my guide, and my acquaintance. [18] 14 We took sweet counsel together, and walked to the house of God in company. [19] 15 Let death seize upon them, and let them go down alive into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them. [20]
16 As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me. 17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice. 18 He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me. 19 God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God. [21] 20 He hath put forth his hands against such as are at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant.

  1. conceive...: Heb. warm me
  2. right: or, constant
  3. bloodguiltiness: Heb. bloods
  4. else...: or, that I should
  5. Maschil: or, of instruction
  6. O thou...: or, and the deceitful tongue
  7. destroy...: Heb. beat thee down
  8. wickedness: or, substance
  9. Maschil: or, of instruction
  10. were...: Heb. they feared a fear
  11. Oh that...: Heb. Who will give salvation, etc
  12. chief...: or, overseer
  13. Maschil: or, of instruction
  14. mine...: Heb. those that observe me
  15. chief...: or, overseer
  16. Maschil: or, of instruction
  17. overwhelmed: Heb. covered
  18. mine equal: Heb. according to my rank
  19. We...: Heb. Who sweetened counsel
  20. hell: or, the grave
  21. Because...: or, With whom also there be no changes, yet they