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 leader of the music. A psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after his intercourse with Bathsheba.” Be gracious unto me, O God! according to thy loving kindness; According to the greatness of thy mercy, blot out my transgressions!
2 Let all my wrongdoing be washed away, and make me clean from evil.
Wash me thoroughly from my 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 in thy sight have I done evil; So that thou art just in thy sentence, And righteous in thy judgment.
5 Truly, I was formed in evil, and in sin did my mother give me birth.
Behold! I was born 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 heart; So teach me wisdom in my inmost soul!
7 Make me free from sin with hyssop: let me be washed whiter than snow.
Purge me with hyssop, until I be clean; Wash me, until I 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, So 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 my iniquities!
10 Make a clean heart in me, O God; give me a right spirit again.
Create within me a clean heart, O God! Renew within me a steadfast spirit!
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 to me the joy of thy protection, And strengthen me with a willing spirit!
13 Then will I make your ways clear to wrongdoers; and sinners will be turned to you.
Then will I teach thy ways to transgressors, And sinners shall be converted to 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 the guilt of blood, O God, the God of my salvation! That my tongue may sing aloud of thy goodness!
15 O Lord, let my lips be open, so that my mouth may make clear your praise.
O Lord! open thou my lips, That my mouth may show 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-offerings.
17 The offerings of God are a broken spirit; a broken and sorrowing heart, O God, you will not put from you.
The sacrifice which God loveth is a broken spirit; A broken and 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 to Zion according to thy mercy; Build up 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 sacrifices of righteousness, With burnt-offerings and complete offerings; Then shall bullocks be offered upon thine altar.
