Surely in vain have I cleansed my heart,\par\tab And washed my hands in innocency;
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?\par\tab And what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?
For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing\par\tab That he should delight himself with God.\par
That thou sayest, What advantage will it be unto thee?\par\tab {\i And}, What profit shall I have, more than if I had sinned?
If I say, I will forget my complaint,\par\tab I will put off my {\i sad} countenance, and be of good cheer;
I shall be condemned;\par\tab Why then do I labor in vain?
Yet wilt thou plunge me in the ditch,\par\tab And mine own clothes shall abhor me.
He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart;\par\tab Who hath not lifted up his soul unto falsehood,\par\tab And hath not sworn deceitfully.
I will wash my hands in innocency:\par\tab So will I compass thine altar, O Jehovah;
Create in me a clean heart, O God;\par\tab And renew a right spirit within me.
Ye have said, It is vain to serve God; and what profit is it that we have kept his charge, and that we have walked mournfully before Jehovah of hosts?
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye doubleminded.