The Cry of a Fallen Leader

Nathan Rebukes David

¹And the Lord sent xNathan to David. He came to him and said to him, y“There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. ²The rich man had very many flocks and herds, ³but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. And he brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children. It used to eat of his morsel and drink from his cup and lie in his arms,1 and it was like a daughter to him. ⁴Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the guest who had come to him, but he took the poor man's lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.” ⁵Then David's anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, z“As the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves to die, ⁶and he shall restore the lamb afourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.”

Create in Me a Clean Heart, O God

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, when vNathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.

¹wHave mercy on me,1 O God,

according to your steadfast love;

according to your xabundant mercy

yblot out my transgressions.

²zWash me thoroughly from my iniquity,

and acleanse me from my sin!

³bFor I know my transgressions,

and my sin is ever before me.

⁴cAgainst you, you only, have I sinned

and done what is evil din your sight,

eso that you may be justified in your words

and blameless in your judgment.

⁵Behold, fI was brought forth in iniquity,

and in sin did my mother conceive me.

⁶Behold, you delight in truth in gthe inward being,

and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.

⁷Purge me hwith hyssop, and I shall be clean;

zwash me, and I shall be iwhiter than snow.

⁸Let me hear joy and gladness;

jlet the bones kthat you have broken rejoice.

⁹lHide your face from my sins,

and yblot out all my iniquities.

¹⁰mCreate in me a nclean heart, O God,

and orenew a right2 spirit within me.

¹¹pCast me not away from your presence,

and take not qyour Holy Spirit from me.

¹²Restore to me the joy of your salvation,

and uphold me with a willing spirit.

¹³Then I will teach transgressors your ways,

and sinners will rreturn to you.

¹⁴Deliver me from sbloodguiltiness, O God,

O tGod of my salvation,

and umy tongue will sing aloud of your vrighteousness.

¹⁵O Lord, open my lips,

and my mouth will declare your praise.

¹⁶wFor you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;

you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.

¹⁷The sacrifices of God are xa broken spirit;

a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

¹⁸yDo good to Zion in your good pleasure;

zbuild up the walls of Jerusalem;

¹⁹then will you delight in aright sacrifices,

in burnt offerings and bwhole burnt offerings;

then bulls will be offered on your altar.