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.
“To the chief musician, a psalm of David, When Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in unto Bath-sheba'.” Be gracious unto me, O God, according to thy kindness: according to the greatness of thy mercies blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me clean of my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.
For of my transgressions I have full knowledge; and my sin is before me continually.
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.
To thee, thee only, have I sinned, and what is evil in thy eyes have I done: —in order that thou mightest be righteous when thou speakest, be justified when thou judgest.
5 Surely I was brought forth in iniquity; I was sinful when my mother conceived me.
Behold, in iniquity was I brought forth; 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: therefore do thou cause me to know wisdom in the recesses [of the heart].
7 Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Cleanse me from sin 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.
Cause me to hear gladness and joy; 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 all my iniquities do thou blot out.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Create unto me a clean heart, O God; and a firm spirit renew thou 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 thy holy spirit do not take from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and sustain me with a willing spirit.
Restore unto me the gladness of thy salvation; and with a liberal spirit do thou support me.—
13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will return to You.
I will 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 blood-guiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation; [that] my tongue may 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 desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: in burnt-offering hast thou no delight.
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, wilt thou not despise.
18 In Your good pleasure, cause Zion to prosper; build up the walls of Jerusalem.
Do good in thy favor 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 be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt-offering and entire offering: then shall bullocks be offered upon thy altar.
