Confession of Sin from Psalm 51

by Clément Tendo

Leader: ¹ Have mercy on me, O God, 

because of your unfailing love. 

Because of your great compassion, 

blot out the stain of my sins. 

ALL: ² Wash me clean from my guilt. 

Purify me from my sin. 

Leader: ³ For I recognize my rebellion; 

it haunts me day and night. 

ALL: ⁴ Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; 

I have done what is evil in your sight. 

Leader: ⁵ For I was born a sinner— 

yes, from the moment my mother conceived me. 

ALL: ⁷ Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; 

wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 

Leader: ⁹ Don’t keep looking at my sins. 

Remove the stain of my guilt. 

ALL: ¹⁰ Create in me a clean heart, O God. 

Renew a loyal spirit within me. 

Leader: ¹¹ Do not banish me from your presence, 

and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me. 

ALL: ¹² Restore to me the joy of your salvation, 

and make me willing to obey you. 

¹⁵ Unseal my lips, O Lord, 

that my mouth may praise you. 

Leader: ¹⁶ You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. 

You do not want a burnt offering. 

ALL: ¹⁷ The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. 

You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.