1In their tribulation, they will arise early to me. Come, let us return to the Lord. 2For he has seized us, and he will heal us. He will strike, and he will cure us. 3He will revive us after two days; on the third day he will raise us up, and we will live in his sight. We will understand, and we will continue on, so that we may know the Lord. His landing place has been prepared like the first light of morning, and he will come to us like the early and the late rains of the land. 4What am I to do with you, Ephraim? What am I to do with you, Judah? Your mercy is like the morning mist, and like the dew passing away in the morning. 5Because of this, I have cut them with the prophets, I have slain them with the words of my mouth; and your opinions will depart like the light. 6For I desired mercy and not sacrifice, and knowledge of God more than holocausts.
3Be merciful to me, O God, according to your great mercy. And, according to the plentitude of your compassion, wipe out my iniquity. 4Wash me once again from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 5For I know my iniquity, and my sin is ever before me. 6Against you only have I sinned, and I have done evil before your eyes. And so, you are justified in your words, and you will prevail when you give judgment. 7For behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sinfulness did my mother conceive me. 8For behold, you have loved truth. The obscure and hidden things of your wisdom, you have manifested to me. 9You will sprinkle me with hyssop, and I will be cleansed. You will wash me, and I will be made whiter than snow. 10In my hearing, you will grant gladness and rejoicing. And the bones that have been humbled will exult. 11Turn your face away from my sins, and erase all my iniquities. 12Create a clean heart in me, O God. And renew an upright spirit within my inmost being. 13Do not cast me away from your face; and do not take your Holy Spirit from me. 14Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and confirm me with an unsurpassed spirit. 15I will teach the unjust your ways, and the impious will be converted to you. 16Free me from blood, O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue will extol your justice. 17O Lord, you will open my lips, and my mouth will announce your praise. 18For if you had desired sacrifice, I would certainly have given it, but with holocausts, you will not be delighted. 19A crushed spirit is a sacrifice to God. A contrite and humbled heart, O God, you will not spurn. 20Act kindly, Lord, in your good will toward Zion, so that the walls of Jerusalem may be built up.