ASH WEDNESDA Y
PSALM 51: 1-17
Have mercy on me, O God,
In keeping with Your steadfast love;
In Your abundant compassion,
Remove from Your memory my straying from Your ways.
Sponge up my guilt;
Cleanse me from my errors.
For I know what I have done wrong,
And I am ever conscious of my violations of Your trust in me.
All the pain I have caused others,
All the arrogance I have displayed,
Began in my disregard for the path to Life.
So that You are justified in condemning me,
And right to pass judgment.
Indeed, I cannot help but stray,
I have ever been weak in my resolve.
Yet You desire that I be true and reliable in my inward being;
Therefore sow in my secret heart
The wisdom to know my utter dependence upon You.
Purge me with herbs, and I shall be clean;
Wash me, and I shall be brighter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness;
Let the bones that have been crushed by guilt rejoice.
Turn Your face from my sins,
And sponge up all my guilt.
Create for me a new beginning, O God,
And put an unshakable spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from Your presence,
And do not take the holiness of Your spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of Your fullness of life,
And sustain in me a spirit of generosity and compassion.
I will then teach the overbearing Your ways,
And those who have wandered will return to You.
Deliver me from the taint of my past violence, O God,
O God of my salvation,
And my tongue will sing aloud of Your deliverance.
O Holy One, open my lips,
And my mouth will rejoice in You.
For You have no delight in rituals of restoration;
If I were to give a burnt offering, You would not be pleased.
The sacrifice acceptable to the Eternal One is a supple spirit,
open to God’s ways;
A heart that has broken its hold on conceit, O God,
You will not spurn.
PSALM 51: 1-17, Antiphonal
Leader: Have mercy on me, O God,
PEOPLE: In keeping with Your steadfast love;
Leader: In Your abundant compassion,
PEOPLE: Remove from Your memory my straying from
Your ways.
Leader: Sponge up my guilt;
PEOPLE: Cleanse me from my errors.
Leader: For I know what I have done wrong,
PEOPLE: And I am ever conscious of my violations
of Your trust in me.
Leader: All the pain I have caused others,
All the arrogance I have displayed,
PEOPLE: Began in my disregard for Your path to Life.
Leader: So that You are justified in condemning me,
PEOPLE: And right to pass judgment.
Leader: Indeed, I cannot help but stray,
PEOPLE: I have ever been weak in my resolve.
Leader: Yet You desire that I be true and reliable in my inward
being;
PEOPLE: Therefore sow in my secret heart
The
wisdom to know my utter dependence upon You.
Leader: Purge me with herbs, and I shall be clean;
PEOPLE: Wash me, and I shall be brighter than snow.
Leader: Let me hear joy and gladness;
PEOPLE: Let the bones that have been crushed by guilt rejoice.
Leader: Turn Your face from my sins,
PEOPLE: And sponge up all my guilt.
Leader: Create for me a new beginning, O God,
PEOPLE: And put an unshakable spirit within me.
Leader: Do not cast me away from Your presence,
PEOPLE: And do not take the holiness of Your spirit from me.
Leader: Restore to me the joy of Your fullness of life,
PEOPLE: And sustain in me a spirit of generosity and compassion.
Leader: I will then teach the overbearing Your ways,
PEOPLE: And those who have wandered will return to You.
Leader: Deliver me from the taint of my past violence, O God,
O
God of my salvation,
PEOPLE: And my tongue will sing aloud of Your deliverance.
Leader: O Holy One, open my lips,
PEOPLE: And my mouth will rejoice in You.
Leader: For You have no delight
in rituals of restoration;
PEOPLE: If I were to give a burnt offering,
You would not be pleased.
Leader: The sacrifice acceptable to the Eternal One is a supple
spirit,
open to God’s ways;
PEOPLE: A heart that has broken its hold on conceit, O God,
You will not spurn.
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