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.
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
2 Let all my wrongdoing be washed away, and make me clean from evil.
Wash me throughly 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 ever 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 this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
5 Truly, I was formed in evil, and in sin did my mother give me birth.
Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; 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 desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt 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 joy and gladness; 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 right 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 thy holy spirit 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 uphold me with thy free spirit.
13 Then will I make your ways clear to wrongdoers; and sinners will be turned to you.
Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted 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 bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and 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.
O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth 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 delightest not 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 thou 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 be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.
