The First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians

Moreover it is also written thus concerning Job:—Now Job[*](Job) was righteous and blameless, true, a worshipper of God, and kept himself from all evil.

But he accuses himself, saying, No man is clean from defilement, not even if his life be but for a single day.

Moses was called Faithful with all his[*](Noah) house, and through his ministry God judged Egypt with their scourges and tormen ts; but he, though he was given great glory, did not use great words, but, when an oracle was given to him from the bush, said:—Who am I that thou sendest me? Nay, I am a man of feeble speech, and a slow tongue.

And again he says, But I am as smoke from a pot.

But what shall we say of the famous David?[*](The humility of David) Of him said God, I have found a man after my own heart, David the son of Jesse, I have anointed him with eternal mercy;

but he too says to God Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy

Wash me yet more from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin; for I know my iniquity, and my sin is ever before me.

Against thee only did I sin, and did evil before thee, that thou mightest be justified in thy words, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

For, lo, I was conceived in iniquity, and in sin did my mother bear me.

For, behold, thou hast loved truth, thou didst make plain to me the secret and hidden things of thy wisdom.

Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be cleansed; tliou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Thou shalt make me hear joy and gladness; the bones which have been humbled shall rejoice.