Psalms 51

1 For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. When Nathan the prophet came to him after his adultery with Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your loving devotion; according to Your great compassion, blot out my transgressions.

For the Leader. A Psalm of David; When Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bath-sheba. Be gracious unto me, O God, according to Thy mercy; according to the multitude of Thy compassions blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me clean of my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.

For I know my transgressions; and my sin is ever before me.

4 Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You may be proved right when You speak and blameless when You judge.

Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in Thy sight; that Thou mayest be justified when Thou speakest, and be in the right when Thou judgest.

5 Surely I was brought forth in iniquity; I was sinful when my mother conceived me.

Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.

6 Surely You desire truth in the inmost being; You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

Behold, Thou desirest truth in the inward parts; make me, therefore, to know wisdom in mine inmost heart.

7 Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones You have crushed rejoice.

Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which Thou hast crushed may rejoice.

9 Hide Your 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 me a clean heart, O God; and renew a stedfast spirit within me.

11 Cast me not away from Your presence; take not Your Holy Spirit from me.

Cast me not away from Thy presence; and take not Thy holy spirit from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and sustain me with a willing spirit.

Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation; and let a willing spirit uphold me.

13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will return to You.

Then will I teach transgressors Thy ways; and sinners shall return unto Thee.

14 Deliver me from bloodguilt, O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing of Your righteousness.

Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, Thou God of my salvation; so shall my tongue sing aloud of Thy righteousness.

15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise.

O Lord, open Thou my lips; and my mouth shall declare Thy praise.

16 For You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; You take no pleasure in burnt offerings.

For Thou delightest not in 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 a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise.

18 In Your good pleasure, cause Zion to prosper; build up the walls of Jerusalem.

Do good in Thy favour unto Zion; build Thou the walls of Jerusalem.

19 Then You will delight in righteous sacrifices, in whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on Your altar.

Then wilt Thou delight in the sacrifices of righteousness, in burnt-offering and whole offering; then will they offer bullocks upon Thine altar.