Psalm 51 meditation: Allegri's Miserere

	Psalm 51:1-18    Miserere mei, Deus
1	Have mercy on me, O God, according to your                             loving-kindness; *     in your great compassion blot out my offenses.
2	Wash me through and through from my wickedness *     and cleanse me from my sin.
3	For I know my transgressions, *     and my sin is ever before me.
4	Against you only have I sinned *     and done what is evil in your sight.
5	And so you are justified when you speak *     and upright in your judgment.
6	Indeed, I have been wicked from my birth, *     a sinner from my mother's womb.
7	For behold, you look for truth deep within me, *     and will make me understand wisdom secretly
8	Purge me from my sin, and I shall be pure; *     wash me, and I shall be clean indeed.
9	Make me hear of joy and gladness, *     that the body you have broken may rejoice.
10	Hide your face from my sins *     and blot out all my iniquities.

11	Create in me a clean heart, O God, *     and renew a right spirit within me.
12	Cast me not away from your presence *     and take not your holy Spirit from me.
13	Give me the joy of your saving help again *     and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit.
14	I shall teach your ways to the wicked, *     and sinners shall return to you.
15	Deliver me from death, O God, *     and my tongue shall sing of your righteousness,     O God of my salvation.
16	Open my lips, O Lord, *     and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
17	Had you desired it, I would have offered sacrifice, *     but you take no delight in burnt-offerings.
18	The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit; *     a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

(Thankful to http://www.bcponline.org/ for making the psalm text available online.)

To read more on the Allegri Miserere or to read the Latin text of the psalm, you can go to the site where I first listened to this particular recording of the setting:
http://www.plough.com/en/topics/culture/holidays/meditations-for-lent/allegris-miserere-for-lent