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 by David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, God, according to your loving kindness. According to the multitude of your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.

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

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity. Cleanse me from my sin.

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

For I know my transgressions. My sin is constantly 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, and you only, I have sinned, and done that which is evil in your sight, so you may be proved right when you speak, and justified when you judge.

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

Behold, I was born in iniquity. My mother conceived me in sin.

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

Behold, you desire truth in the inward parts. You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

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.

Let me hear joy and gladness, that the bones which 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 of my iniquities.

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

Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.

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

Don’t throw me from your presence, and don’t 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. Uphold me with a willing spirit.

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

Then I will teach transgressors your ways. 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.

Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, the God of my salvation. My tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.

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

Lord, open my lips. My mouth will declare your praise.

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

For you don’t delight in sacrifice, or else I would give it. You have 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. O God, you will not despise a broken and contrite heart.

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

Do well in your good pleasure to Zion. 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 will delight in the sacrifices of righteousness, in burnt offerings and in whole burnt offerings. Then they will offer bulls on your altar.