Psalms 51

1 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.

O God, be merciful to me, because you love me faithfully; because you are very merciful, erase [the record of] the ways that I disobeyed you!

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

Make me pure from the wrong things that I have done; make me clean from [the guilt of] my sin.

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

[I say that] because I know the ways that I have disobeyed you; I cannot forget them.

4 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.

You, you only, are the one that I have [really] sinned against, and you have seen the evil things that I have done. When you say that I am guilty, you are right/correct, and when you judge me, you justly say [that I deserve to be punished].

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

I have been a sinner since the day that I was born; [truly], I have been like that since my mother conceived me.

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

What you desire is that I desire what is true in order that you [can] teach me how to act wisely.

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

Purify me from the guilt of my sins, and [after that happens], I will be clean [in my inner being]; cleanse me, and [then in my inner being] I will be (whiter than snow/very clean).

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

Allow/Cause me to be joyful [DOU] again; you have (crushed my spirit/completely discouraged me) [MTY]; [but now] let me rejoice [again].

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

Do not continue to look at the sins [IDM] that I have committed; erase the record of the evil things that I have done.

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

O God, cause my inner being to be pure. Put new [thoughts] within me and make me faithful again.

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

Do not send me away from you [because of my sin], and do not take your Holy Spirit from me.

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

Cause/Allow me to be happy again because of [knowing] that you have freed me [from the guilt of my sin], and make me willing [to obey you].

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

If you do that, I will [be able to] teach [other] sinners what you want them to do, and they will repent and begin to obey you.

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

O God, you are the one who saves me; forgive me for being guilty of causing someone [who was not my enemy] to die. [When you do that], I will sing joyfully about your being very good and righteous.

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

O Yahweh, help me to speak [in order that] I may praise you.

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

You are not pleased [only] with the sacrifices [that people bring to you]. If that were [enough to] please you, I would bring you sacrifices. You are not pleased with burnt offerings [alone].

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

The sacrifice that you [really] want is for people to be truly humble and sorry [for having sinned]; O God, you will not refuse that kind of sacrifice.

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

[O God], be good to [the people who live in] Jerusalem [MTY], [and help them] to rebuild the city walls.

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

When that happens, [they will bring you] the proper sacrifices, animals that they will completely burn, young bulls that they will burn on your altar, and you will be pleased.