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 music director. A psalm of David. When Nathan the prophet came to him after he had committed adultery with Bathsheba. God, please be gracious to me, because of your trustworthy love, because of your infinite kindness please wipe away my sins.

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

Wash away all my guilt; cleanse me from my sin.

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

I admit my rebellion; my sin always stares me in my face.

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.

I have sinned against you, you alone. I have done evil in your sight. So you are right in what you say, and fair when you judge.

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

It's true that I was born guilty—sinful from the time my mother conceived 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.

But you want truth on the inside; you teach me wisdom deep within.

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

Purify me with hyssop so I can be clean; wash me so I can be whiter than snow.

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

Please let me hear joy and happiness again; let the bones you have crushed be glad once more.

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

Turn your face away from looking at my sins; please wipe away my guilt.

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

Create a pure mind in me, God, and make me trustworthy again.

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

Don't expel me from your presence; don't take away your Holy Spirit from me.

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

Give me back the happiness of your salvation; help me to have a willing nature.

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

Then I will teach your ways to rebellious people, and these sinners will come back 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.

God, please forgive me for the blood I have shed, God of my salvation, and I will sing for joy of your goodness.

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

Open my lips so I can speak your praise!

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

For sacrifices don't make you happy, or I would bring one; burnt offerings aren't what pleases you.

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

The “sacrifices” that God wants are on the inside—the brokenness of repentance. God won't reject a broken and sorrowful heart.

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

Be kind to Zion, help the city; rebuild 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 you will be pleased with sacrifices given in the right spirit, for all kinds of burnt offerings, and bulls sacrificed on your altar once more.