Helpful Scripture

• Psalm 51:16-17 ¹⁶You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. ¹⁷The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.¹


• Psalm 51 ¹Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. ²Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. ³For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night. ⁴Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just. ⁵For I was born a sinner—yes, from the moment my mother conceived me. ⁶But you desire honesty from the womb, teaching me wisdom even there. ⁷Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. ⁸Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me—now let me rejoice. ⁹Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. ¹⁰Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. ¹¹Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me. ¹²Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. ¹³Then I will teach your ways to rebels, and they will return to you. ¹⁴Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves; then I will joyfully sing of your forgiveness.¹⁵Unseal my lips, O Lord, that my mouth may praise you. ¹⁶You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering. ¹⁷The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God. ¹⁸Look with favor on Zion and help her; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. ¹⁹Then you will be pleased with sacrifices offered in the right spirit—with burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings. Then bulls will again be sacrificed on your altar.²

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¹ Psalms 51:16-17, NIV.

² Psalms 51, NLT.