< 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.
Have mercy upon me, O Elohim, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me clean of my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.
Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.
For I acknowledge 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 this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
5 Surely I was brought forth in iniquity; I was sinful when my mother conceived me.
Behold, I was shapen 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: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
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 broken 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 in me a clean heart, O Elohim; and renew a right 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 uphold me with thy free spirit.
13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will return to You.
Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted 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 Elohim, thou Elohim of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise.
O YHWH, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
16 For You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; You take no pleasure in burnt offerings.
For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not 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 Elohim are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O Elohim, thou wilt not despise.
18 In Your good pleasure, cause Zion to prosper; build up the walls of Jerusalem.
Do good in thy good pleasure 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 shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.