Be gracious unto me, O God, according to Thy kindness;
according to the abundance of Thy compassion, blot out my rebelliousness.
Thoroughly wash me from my crookedness;
and from my offences cleanse me.
For I know my rebelliousness;
and my offence is constantly before my face.
Against Thee and Thee only have I sinned, and done evil before Thine
eyes;
so that Thy words are right and Thy judgment pure.
Listen! Into crookedness I was born;
and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Look! Thou hast desired truth in the inmost thoughts;
and in the hidden thoughts Thou causest me to see wisdom.
Purify me with hyssop and I am clean;
wash me and I am whiter than snow.
Cause me to hear joy and gladness;
make joyful the bones Thou hast bruised.
Hide Thy face from my offence;
and blot out all my crookedness.
A clean heart prepare for me, O God;
and a right spirit renew within me.
Cast me not forth from Thy presence;
and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of Thy salvation;
and with a generous spirit support me.
I shall teach the rebellious Thy ways;
and sinners shall return to Thee.
Deliver me from bloodguilt, O God, Thou God of my salvation;
and my tongue shall sing Thy righteousness.
O Lord, open Thou my lips;
and my mouth shall declare Thy praise.
For Thou desirest not sacrifice, or I would give it;
burnt offering Thou acceptest not.
The sacrifices to God are a broken spirit;
a heart broken and bruised, O God, dost Thou not despise.
Do good in Thy good pleasure unto Zion;
build the walls of Jerusalem.
Then ask sacrifices of righteousness, burnt offering and whole burnt-offering;
then shall they offer gifts upon Thine altar.
Be gracious unto me, O God, according to Thy kindness;
according to the abundance of Thy compassion, blot out my rebelliousness.
Then ask sacrifices of righteousness, burnt offering and whole burnt-offering;
then shall they offer gifts upon Thine altar.
† Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
One God,
in both worlds unto the Aeon of aeons. Amen.
§ And resume with Evening Prayer at the Supplication of St Ephraim.