1 Clement
Chapter 18
- 1 But what shall we say of the famous David? Of him said God, “I have found a man after my own heart, David the son of Jesse, I have anointed him with eternal mercy;”
- 2 but he too says to God “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy great mercy, and according to the multitude of thy compassions, blot out my transgression.
- 3 Wash me yet more from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin; for I know my iniquity, and my sin is ever before me.
- 4 Against thee only did I sin, and did evil before thee, that thou mightest be justified in thy words, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
- 5 For, lo, I was conceived in iniquity, and in sin did my mother bear me.
- 6 For, behold, thou hast loved truth, thou didst make plain to me the secret and hidden things of thy wisdom.
- 7 Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be cleansed; thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
- 8 Thou shalt make me hear joy and gladness; the bones which have been humbled shall rejoice.
- 9 Turn thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
- 10 Create a clean heart in me, O God, and renew a right spirit in my inmost parts.
- 11 Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy Holy Spirit from me.
- 12 Give me back the gladness of thy salvation, strengthen me with thy governing spirit.
- 13 I will teach the wicked thy ways, and the ungodly shall be converted unto thee.
- 14 Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation.
- 15 My tongue shall rejoice in thy righteousness. O Lord, thou shalt open my mouth, and my lips shall tell of thy praise.
- 16 For if thou hadst desired sacrifice, I would have given it; in whole burnt offerings thou wilt not delight.
- 17 The sacrifice unto God is a broken spirit, a broken and a humbled heart God shall not despise.”