Miserere (Psalm 51)
David wrote this psalm after the prophet Nathan confronted him over his sin with Bathsheba, and it has been prayed ever since as the fullest biblical expression of repentance — sung in monasteries every week and prayed privately by anyone seeking to come back to God after falling.
Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy great mercy. And according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my iniquity. Wash me yet more from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my iniquity, and my sin is always before me. Create a clean heart in me, O God: and renew a right spirit within my bowels. Cast me not away from thy face; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and strengthen me with a perfect spirit. A sacrifice to God is an afflicted spirit: a contrite and humbled heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
