< 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.
For the leader. A psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet come to him after he had been with Bathsheba. In your kindness, O God, be gracious to me, in your own great pity blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
Wash me clean of my guilt, make me pure of my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.
For well I know my transgressions, my sin is ever 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 you, only you, have I sinned, and done that which is wrong in your sight: you therefore are just when you speak, and clear when you utter judgment.
5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.
See! In guilt was I brought to the birth, 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.
It’s the innermost truth you desire, give me therefore true wisdom of heart.
7 Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean. Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Purge me clean with hyssop, wash me whiter than snow.
8 Make me to hear joy and gladness, that the bones which thou have broken may rejoice.
Fill me with joy and gladness, let the bones you have broken rejoice.
9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.
Hide your face from my sins, and blot out my guilt altogether.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Create me a clean heart, O God, put a new steadfast spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy holy Spirit from me.
Cast me not forth from your presence, withdraw not your holy spirit.
12 Restore to me the joy of thy salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.
Give me back the joy of your help, with a willing spirit sustain me.
13 Then I will teach transgressors thy ways, and sinners shall be converted to thee.
I will teach your ways to transgressors, and sinners shall turn to you.
14 Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation. And my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
Save me from blood, O God, and my tongue shall ring out your faithfulness.
15 O Lord, open thou my lips, and my mouth shall show forth thy praise.
Open my lips, O Lord, and my mouth shall declare your praise.
16 For thou delight not in sacrifice, else I would give it. Thou have no pleasure in burnt offering.
For in sacrifice you have no pleasure, in gifts of burnt-offering no delight.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. A broken and contrite heart, O God, thou will not despise.
The sacrifice pleasing to God is a spirit that is broken; a heart that is crushed, O God, you will not despise.
18 Do good in thy good pleasure to Zion. Build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
Do good in your pleasure to 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 will you welcome the due forms of sacrifice, then on your altars shall bullocks be offered.

< Psalms 51 >