God be merciful to me on Thy grace, I rest my plea
Plenteous in compassion Thou
Blot out my transgressions now

Wash me, make me pure within
Cleanse, oh, cleanse me from my sin

My transgressions I confess
Grief and guilt my soul oppress
I have sinned against Thy grace
And provoked Thee to Thy face

I confess Thy judgment just
Speechless, I, Thy mercy trust

I am evil born in sin
Thou desirest truth within
Thou alone my Savior art
Teach Thy wisdom to my heart

Make me pure, Thy grace bestow
Wash me whiter than the snow

Gracious God, my heart renew
Make my spirit right and true
Thy salvation’s joy impart
Steadfast make my willing heart
Steadfast make my willing heart

Broken, humbled to the dust
By Thy wrath and judgment just
Let my contrite heart rejoice
And in gladness hear Thy voice

From my sins, oh, hide Thy face
Blot them out in boundless grace

traditional words from the Psalter 1912 / music by Christopher Miner / © 1997 Christopher Miner Music.

Behind the Song:
Matt Odmark says, “We’ve been blessed to be apart of a church that has embraced the idea of the reinvention of hymns. I think ‘God Be Merciful to Me’ is just one of the songs we first heard in our church worship that drew us into hymns.” Jars’ version features new music (written by Chris Miner) to words from the 1912 Psalter and is based on Psalm 51. David’s words of confession after the Bathsheba incident give us today words for our own confession of sin. “This is a simple, beautiful prayer for mercy,” Charlie Lowell says. (Jars Of Clay)