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Text
Have mercy on me, O God,
   according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
   blot out my transgressions.
Wash away all my iniquity
   and cleanse me from my sin.

For I know my transgressions,
   and my sin is always before me.
Against you, you only, have I sinned
   and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are proved right when you speak
   and justified when you judge.
Surely I was sinful at birth,
   sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
Surely you desire truth in the inner parts;
   you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
   wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness;
   let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins
   and blot out all my iniquity.

Create in me a pure heart, O God,
   and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence
   or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation
   and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me.

Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
   and sinners will turn back to you.
Save me from bloodguilt, O God,
   the God who saves me,
   and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
O Lord open my lips,
   and my mouth will declare your praise.
You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
   you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
   a broken and a contrite heart,
   O God, you will not despise.

In your good pleasure make Zion prosper;
   build up the walls of Jerusalem.
Then there will be righteous sacrifices,
   whole burnt offerings to delight you;
   then bulls will be offered on your altar.

—Psalm 51 NIV

Commission and Performance History
Have Mercy on Me, O God was premiered on October 14, 2001 at the First Evangelical Free Church of Fullerton, California by Doris Fuqua with Carol Hughes accompanying, and was recorded in 2001 by Doris Fuqua for her CD Morning (CladieBea@aol.com).