Prayer from the Books of Psalms 51, 54 and 23

(Excerpts from the King James Version Bible)

A Prayer for Cleansing
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bath–she'ba.

1 Have mercy upon me, O God,
according to thy loving-kindness:
according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies
blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I acknowledge my transgressions:
and my sin is ever before me.

4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned,
and done this evil in thy sight:
that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest,
and be clear when thou judgest. Rom. 3.4

5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity;
and in sin did my mother conceive me.

6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts:
and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean:
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

8 Make me to hear joy and gladness;
that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

9 Hide thy face from my sins,
and blot out all mine iniquities.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God;
and renew a right spirit within me.

11 Cast me not away from thy presence;
and take not thy Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation;
and uphold me with thy free Spirit.

13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways;
and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God,
thou God of my salvation:
and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

15 O Lord, open thou my lips;
and my mouth shall show forth thy praise.

16 For thou desirest not sacrifice;
else would I give it:
thou delightest not in burnt offering.

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit:
a broken and a contrite heart, O God,
thou wilt not despise.

18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion:
build thou the walls of Jerusalem.

19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness,
with burnt offering and whole burnt offering:
then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.


The Holy Bible: King James Version. 2000.
The Psalms
54

A Prayer for Protection from Enemies
To the chief Musician on Neg'inoth, Maschil, A Psalm of David, when the Ziphim came and said to Saul, Doth not David hide himself with us?

1 Save me, O God, by thy name,
and judge me by thy strength.

2 Hear my prayer, O God;
give ear to the words of my mouth.

3 For strangers are risen up against me,
and oppressors seek after my soul:
they have not set God before them.
Selah.

4 Behold, God is mine helper:
the Lord is with them that uphold my soul.

5 He shall reward evil unto mine enemies:
cut them off in thy truth.

6 I will freely sacrifice unto thee:
I will praise thy name, O LORD;
for it is good.

7 For he hath delivered me out of all trouble:
and mine eye hath seen his desire upon mine enemies.



The Holy Bible: King James Version. 2000.
The Psalms
23

The LORD Is My Shepherd
A Psalm of David.

1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
he leadeth me beside the still waters. Rev. 7.17

3 He restoreth my soul:
he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;
thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
thou anointest my head with oil;
my cup runneth over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.