All in vain I have kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence.
Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.
Surely then in vain have I cleansed my heart and washed my hands in innocency.
Surely in vain have I cleansed my heart, And washed my hands in innocency;
Meanwhile, I’ve kept my heart pure for no good reason; I’ve washed my hands to stay innocent for nothing.
In your virtue, you confirmed the sea. You crushed the heads of the serpents in the waters.
Thou by thy strength didst make the sea firm: thou didst crush the heads of the dragons in the waters.
What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit do we get if we pray to him?’
For he has said, ‘It profits one nothing to take delight in God.’
If you ask, ‘What advantage have I? How am I better off than if I had sinned?’
If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint; I will put off my sad countenance and be of good cheer,’
I shall be condemned; why then do I labor in vain?
yet you will plunge me into filth, and my own clothes will abhor me.
Those who have clean hands and pure hearts, who do not lift up their souls to what is false and do not swear deceitfully.
I wash my hands in innocence and go around your altar, O Lord,
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.
You have said, “It is vain to serve God. What do we profit by keeping his command or by going about as mourners before the Lord of hosts?
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.