< Psalms 51 >
1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving kindness. According to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
To the chief Musician. A Psalm of David; when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bath-sheba. Be gracious unto me, O God, according to thy loving-kindness; according to the abundance of thy tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
Wash me fully from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.
For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is continually before me.
4 Against thee, thee only, I have sinned, and done that which is evil in thy sight, that thou may be justified when thou speak, and may prevail when thou are criticized.
Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done what is evil in thy sight; that thou mayest be justified when thou speakest, be clear when thou judgest.
5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.
Behold, in iniquity was I brought forth, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6 Behold, thou desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part thou will make me to know wisdom.
Behold, thou wilt have truth in the inward parts; and in the hidden [part] thou wilt make me to know wisdom.
7 Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean. Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Make me to hear joy and gladness, that the bones which thou have broken may rejoice.
Make me to hear gladness and joy; [that] the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.
Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy holy Spirit from me.
Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not the spirit of thy holiness from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of thy salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and let a willing spirit sustain me.
13 Then I will teach transgressors thy ways, and sinners shall be converted to thee.
I will teach transgressors thy ways, and sinners shall return unto thee.
14 Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation. And my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
15 O Lord, open thou my lips, and my mouth shall show forth thy praise.
Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare thy praise.
16 For thou delight not in sacrifice, else I would give it. Thou have no pleasure in burnt offering.
For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou hast no pleasure in burnt-offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. A broken and contrite heart, O God, thou will not despise.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
18 Do good in thy good pleasure to Zion. Build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion; build the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then thou will delight in the sacrifices of righteousness, in burnt offering and in whole burnt offering. Then they will offer bullocks upon thine altar.
Then shalt thou have sacrifices of righteousness, burnt-offering, and whole burnt-offering; then shall they offer up bullocks upon thine altar.