Psalms 51

1 To the chief music-maker. A Psalm. Of David. When Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bath-sheba. Have pity on me, O God, in your mercy; out of a full heart, take away my sin.

For the end, a Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, when he had gone to Bersabee. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to your great mercy; and according to the multitude of your compassions blot out my transgression.

2 Let all my wrongdoing be washed away, and make me clean from evil.

Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I am conscious of my error; my sin is ever before me.

For I am conscious of mine iniquity; and my sin is continually before me.

4 Against you, you only, have I done wrong, working that which is evil in your eyes; so that your words may be seen to be right, and you may be clear when you are judging.

Against you only have I sinned, and done evil before you: that you might be justified in your sayings, and might overcome when you are judged.

5 Truly, I was formed in evil, and in sin did my mother give me birth.

For, behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sins did my mother conceive me.

6 Your desire is for what is true in the inner parts: in the secrets of my soul you will give me knowledge of wisdom.

For, behold, you love truth: you have manifested to me the secret and hidden things of your wisdom.

7 Make me free from sin with hyssop: let me be washed whiter than snow.

You shall sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be purified: you shall wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow.

8 Make me full of joy and rapture; so that the bones which have been broken may be glad.

You shall cause me to hear gladness and joy: the afflicted bones shall rejoice.

9 Let your face be turned from my wrongdoing, and take away all my sins.

Turn away your face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

10 Make a clean heart in me, O God; give me a right spirit again.

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit in my inward parts.

11 Do not put me away from before you, or take your holy spirit from me.

Cast me not away from your presence; and remove not your holy Spirit from me.

12 Give me back the joy of your salvation; let a free spirit be my support.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation: establish me with your directing Spirit.

13 Then will I make your ways clear to wrongdoers; and sinners will be turned to you.

[Then] will I teach transgressors your ways; and ungodly men shall turn to you.

14 Be my saviour from violent death, O God, the God of my salvation; and my tongue will give praise to your righteousness.

Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation: [and] my tongue shall joyfully declare your righteousness.

15 O Lord, let my lips be open, so that my mouth may make clear your praise.

O Lord, you shall open my lips; and my mouth shall declare your praise.

16 You have no desire for an offering or I would give it; you have no delight in burned offerings.

For if you desired sacrifice, I would have given [it]: you will not take pleasure in whole burnt offerings.

17 The offerings of God are a broken spirit; a broken and sorrowing heart, O God, you will not put from you.

Sacrifice to God is a broken spirit: a broken and humbled heart God will not despise.

18 Do good to Zion in your good pleasure, building up the walls of Jerusalem.

Do good, O Lord, to Sion in your good pleasure; and let the walls of Jerusalem be built.

19 Then you will have delight in the offerings of righteousness, in burned offerings and offerings of beasts; then they will make offerings of oxen on your altar.

Then shall you be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, offering, and whole burnt sacrifices: then shall they offer calves upon your altar.