Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain, And washed my hands in innocence.
I will wash my hands in innocence; So I will go about Your altar, O Lord,
For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing That he should delight in God.’
Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him? And what profit do we have if we pray to Him?’
For you say, ‘What advantage will it be to You? What profit shall I have, more than if I had sinned?’
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
You have said, ‘It is useless to serve God; What profit is it that we have kept His ordinance, And that we have walked as mourners Before the Lord of hosts?
Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully.
Yet You will plunge me into the pit, And my own clothes will abhor me.
If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad face and wear a smile,’
If I am condemned, Why then do I labor in vain?