Psalm 50 (51)

An important prayer for all of us sinners, of whom I am the greatest.

In Latin:
3 Miserere mei, Deus, secundum magnam misericordiam tuam; et secundum multitudinem miserationum tuarum, dele iniquitatem meam. 4 Amplius lava me ab iniquitate mea, et a peccato meo munda me. 5 Quoniam iniquitatem meam ego cognosco, et peccatum meum contra me est semper. 6 Tibi soli peccavi, et malum coram te feci; ut justificeris in sermonibus tuis, et vincas cum judicaris.7 Ecce enim in iniquitatibus conceptus sum, et in peccatis concepit me mater mea.8 Ecce enim veritatem dilexisti; incerta et occulta sapientiæ tuæ manifestasti mihi.9 Asperges me hyssopo, et mundabor; lavabis me, et super nivem dealbabor.10 Auditui meo dabis gaudium et lætitiam, et exsultabunt ossa humiliata. 11 Averte faciem tuam a peccatis meis, et omnes iniquitates meas dele. 12 Cor mundum crea in me, Deus, et spiritum rectum innova in visceribus meis. 13 Ne projicias me a facie tua, et spiritum sanctum tuum ne auferas a me. 14 Redde mihi lætitiam salutaris tui, et spiritu principali confirma me. 15 Docebo iniquos vias tuas, et impii ad te convertentur. 16 Libera me de sanguinibus, Deus, Deus salutis meæ, et exsultabit lingua mea justitiam tuam. 17 Domine, labia mea aperies, et os meum annuntiabit laudem tuam. 18 Quoniam si voluisses sacrificium, dedissem utique; holocaustis non delectaberis. 19 Sacrificium Deo spiritus contribulatus; cor contritum et humiliatum, Deus, non despicies. 20 Benigne fac, Domine, in bona voluntate tua Sion, ut ædificentur muri Jerusalem. 21 Tunc acceptabis sacrificium justitiæ, oblationes et holocausta; tunc imponent super altare tuum vitulos.

In English:
3 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your great mercy. And according to the multitude of your tender mercies blot out my iniquity. 4 Wash me yet more from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 5 For I know my iniquity, and my sin is always before me. 6 To you only have I sinned, and have done evil before you: that you may be justified in your words, and may overcome when you are judged. 7 For behold I was conceived in iniquities; and in sins did my mother conceive me. 8 For behold you have loved truth: the uncertain and hidden things of your wisdom you have made manifest to me. 9 You shall sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be cleansed: you shall wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow. 10 To my hearing you shall give joy and gladness: and the bones that have been humbled shall rejoice. 11 Turn away your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.12 Create a clean heart in me, O God: and renew a right spirit within my bowels. 13 Cast me not away from your face; and take not your holy spirit from me. 14 Restore unto me the joy of your salvation, and strengthen me with a perfect spirit. 15 I will teach the unjust your ways: and the wicked shall be converted to you. 16 Deliver me from blood, O God, you God of my salvation: and my tongue shall extol your justice. 17 O Lord, you will open my lips: and my mouth shall declare your praise. 18 For if you had desired sacrifice, I would indeed have given it: with burnt offerings you will not be delighted. 19 A sacrifice to God is an afflicted spirit: a contrite and humbled heart, O God, you will not despise. 20 Deal favourably, O Lord, in your good will with Sion; that the walls of Jerusalem may be built up. 21 Then shall you accept the sacrifice of justice, oblations and whole burnt offerings: then shall they lay calves upon your altar.