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 OVERSEER. A PSALM OF DAVID, IN THE COMING OF NATHAN THE PROPHET TO HIM WHEN HE HAS GONE IN TO BATHSHEBA. Favor me, O God, according to Your kindness, According to the abundance of Your mercies, Blot out my transgressions.

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

Thoroughly wash me from my 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] continually 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 You, You only, I have sinned, And done evil in Your eyes, So that You are righteous in Your words, You are pure in Your judging.

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

Behold, I have been brought forth in iniquity, And my mother conceives me in sin.

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

Behold, You have desired truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You cause me to know Wisdom.

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

You cleanse me with hyssop and I am clean, Wash me, and I am whiter than snow.

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

You cause me to hear joy and gladness, You make bones You have bruised joyful.

9 Hide Your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities.

Hide Your face from my sin. And blot out all my iniquities.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

Create for me a clean heart, O God, And renew a right spirit within me.

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

Do not cast me forth from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

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

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And a willing spirit sustains me.

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

I teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners return to You.

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

Deliver me from blood, O God, God of my salvation, My tongue sings of Your righteousness.

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

O Lord, you open my lips, And my mouth declares Your praise.

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

For You do not desire sacrifice, or I give [it], You do not accept 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 heart broken and bruised, O God, You do not despise.

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

Do good in Your good pleasure with Zion, You build 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 You desire sacrifices of righteousness, Burnt-offering, and whole burnt-offering, Then they offer bullocks on your altar!