Chapter XVIII.—David as an Example of Humility.

But what shall we say concerning David, to whom such testimony was borne, and of whom90    Or, as some render “to whom.” God said, “I have found a man after mine own heart, David the son of Jesse; and in everlasting mercy have I anointed him?”91    Ps. lxxxix. 21.  Yet this very man saith to God, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, according to Thy great mercy; and according to the multitude of Thy compassions, blot out my transgression.92    “Wash me.…” and following verses omitted in I.  Wash me still more from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.  For I acknowledge mine iniquity, and my sin is ever before me.  Against Thee only have I sinned, and done that which is evil in Thy sight; that Thou mayest be justified in Thy sayings, and mayest overcome when Thou93    Or, “when Thou judgest.” art judged.  For, behold, I was conceived in transgressions, and in sins did my mother conceive me.  For, behold, Thou hast loved truth; the secret and hidden things of wisdom hast Thou shown me.  Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be cleansed; Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.  Thou shalt make me to hear joy and gladness; my bones, which have been humbled, shall exult.  Turn away Thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.  Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.94    Literally, “in my inwards.”  Cast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.  Restore to me the joy of Thy salvation, and establish me by Thy governing Spirit.  I will teach transgressors Thy ways, and the ungodly shall be converted unto Thee.  Deliver me from blood-guiltiness,95    Literally, “bloods.” O God, the God of my salvation:  my tongue shall exult in Thy righteousness.  O Lord, Thou shalt open my mouth, and my lips shall show forth Thy praise.  For if Thou hadst desired sacrifice, I would have given it; Thou wilt not delight in burnt-offerings.  The sacrifice [acceptable] to God is a bruised spirit; a broken and a contrite heart God will not despise.”96    Ps. li. 1–17.

ΚΕΦΑΛΑΙΟΝ ΙΗ’. Τί δὲ εἴπωμεν ἐπὶ τῷ μεμαρτυρημένῳ ∆αυίδ; πρὸς ὃν εἶπεν ὁ θεός· «Eὗρον ἄνδρα κατὰ τὴν καρδίαν μου, ∆αυὶδ τὸν τοῦ Ἰεσσαί· ἐν ἐλέει αἰωνίῳ ἔχρισα αὐτόν.» Ἀλλὰ καὶ αὐτὸς λέγει πρὸς τὸν θεόν· «Ἐλέησόν με, ὁ θεός, κατὰ τὸ μέγα ἔλεός σου, καὶ κατὰ τὸ πλῆθος τῶν οἰκτιρμῶν σου ἐξάλειψον τὸ ἀνόμημά μου. Ἐπὶ πλεῖον πλῦνόν με ἀπὸ τῆς ἀνομίας μου, καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς ἁμαρτίας μου καθάρισόν με· ὅτι τὴν ἀνομίαν μου ἐγὼ γινώσκω, καὶ ἡ ἁμαρτία μου ἐνώπιόν μου ἐστὶν διαπαντός. Σοὶ μόνῳ ἥμαρτον, καὶ τὸ πονηρὸν ἐνώπιόν σου ἐποίησα· ὅπως ἂν δικαιωθῇς ἐν τοῖς λόγοις σου, καὶ νικήσῃς ἐν τῷ κρίνεσθαί σε. Ἰδοὺ γὰρ ἐν ἀνομίαις συνελήμφθην, καὶ ἐν ἁμαρτίαις ἐκίσσησέν με ἡ μήτηρ μου. Ἰδοὺ γὰρ ἀλήθειαν ἠγάπησας· τὰ ἄδηλα καὶ τὰ κρύφια τῆς σοφίας σου ἐδήλωσάς μοι. Ῥαντιεῖς με ὑσσώπῳ, καὶ καθαρισθήσομαι· πλυνεῖς με, καὶ ὑπὲρ χιόνα λευκανθήσομαι. Ἀκουτιεῖς με ἀγαλλίασιν καὶ εὐφροσύνην· ἀγαλλιάσονται ὀστᾶ τεταπεινωμένα. Ἀπόστρεψον τὸ πρόσωπόν σου ἀπὸ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν μου, καὶ πάσας τὰς ἀνομίας μου ἐξάλειψον. Καρδίαν καθαρὰν κτίσον ἐν ἐμοί, ὁ θεός, καὶ πνεῦμα εὐθὲς ἐγκαίνισον ἐν τοῖς ἐγκάτοις μου. Μὴ ἀπορίψῃς με ἀπὸ τοῦ προσώπου σου, καὶ τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιόν σου μὴ ἀντανέλῃς ἀπ' ἐμοῦ. Ἀπόδος μοι τὴν ἀγαλλίασιν τοῦ σωτηρίου σου, καὶ πνεύματι ἡγεμονικῷ στήρισόν με. ∆ιδάξω ἀνόμους τὰς ὁδούς σου, καὶ ἀσεβεῖς ἐπιστρέψουσιν ἐπὶ σέ. Ῥῦσαί με ἐξ αἱμάτων, ὁ θεός, ὁ θεὸς τῆς σωτηρίας μου· ἀγαλλιάσεται ἡ γλῶσσά μου τὴν δικαιοσύνην σου. Κύριε, τὸ στόμα μου ἀνοίξεις, καὶ τὰ χείλη μου ἀναγγελεῖ τὴν αἴνεσίν σου. Ὅτι εἰ ἠθέλησας θυσίαν, ἔδωκα ἄν· ὁλοκαυτώματα οὐκ εὐδοκήσεις. Θυσία τῷ θεῷ πνεῦμα συντετριμμένον· καρδίαν συντετριμμένην καὶ τεταπεινωμένην ὁ θεὸς οὐκ ἐξουθενώσει.»