< 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.
To the chief Musician. A Psalm of David; when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bath-sheba. Be gracious unto me, O God, according to thy loving-kindness; according to the abundance of thy tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.
2 Let all my wrongdoing be washed away, and make me clean from evil.
Wash me fully 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 acknowledge my transgressions, 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 thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done what is evil in thy sight; that thou mayest be justified when thou speakest, be clear when thou judgest.
5 Truly, I was formed in evil, and in sin did my mother give me birth.
Behold, in iniquity was I brought forth, and in sin 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.
Behold, thou wilt have truth in the inward parts; and in the hidden [part] thou wilt make me to know wisdom.
7 Make me free from sin with hyssop: let me be washed whiter than snow.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Make me full of joy and rapture; so that the bones which have been broken may be glad.
Make me to hear gladness and joy; [that] the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
9 Let your face be turned from my wrongdoing, and take away all my sins.
Hide thy 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 steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not put me away from before you, or take your holy spirit from me.
Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not the spirit of thy holiness from me.
12 Give me back the joy of your salvation; let a free spirit be my support.
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and let a willing spirit sustain me.
13 Then will I make your ways clear to wrongdoers; and sinners will be turned to you.
I will teach transgressors thy ways, and sinners shall return unto thee.
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, thou God of my salvation: my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
15 O Lord, let my lips be open, so that my mouth may make clear your praise.
Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare thy praise.
16 You have no desire for an offering or I would give it; you have no delight in burned offerings.
For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou hast no pleasure in burnt-offering.
17 The offerings of God are a broken spirit; a broken and sorrowing heart, O God, you will not put from you.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
18 Do good to Zion in your good pleasure, building up the walls of Jerusalem.
Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion; build the walls of Jerusalem.
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 shalt thou have sacrifices of righteousness, burnt-offering, and whole burnt-offering; then shall they offer up bullocks upon thine altar.