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 chief musician. A psalm of David; when Nathan the prophet came to him after he had slept with Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, God, because of your covenant faithfulness; for the sake of the multitude of your merciful actions, 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 I know my transgressions, and my sin is always 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 what is evil in your sight; you are right when you speak; you are correct when you judge.

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

See, I was born in iniquity; as soon as my mother conceived me, I was in sin.

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

See, you desire trustworthiness in my inner self; and you teach me wisdom in the secret place within.

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

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

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

Make me hear joy and gladness so that the bones that you have broken may rejoice.

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

Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities.

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

Create in me a clean heart, 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 drive me away 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 sustain me with a willing spirit.

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

Then will I teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will be converted to you.

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

Forgive me for shedding blood, God of my salvation, and I will shout for the joy of your righteousness.

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

Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will express 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 delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you have no pleasure in burnt offerings.

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. You, God, will not despise a broken and a contrite heart.

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

Do good in your good pleasure to Zion; rebuild 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 will you delight in the sacrifices of righteousness, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then our people will offer bulls on your altar.