Psalms 51

1 Unto the end. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he went to Bathsheba. Be merciful to me, O God, according to your great mercy. And, according to the plentitude of your compassion, wipe out my iniquity.

For the Leader. A Psalm of David; When Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bath-sheba. Be gracious unto me, O God, according to Thy mercy; according to the multitude of Thy compassions blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me once again from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

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

3 For I know my iniquity, and my sin is ever before me.

For I know my transgressions; and my sin is ever before me.

4 Against you only have I sinned, and I have done evil before your eyes. And so, you are justified in your words, and you will prevail when you give judgment.

Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in Thy sight; that Thou mayest be justified when Thou speakest, and be in the right when Thou judgest.

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

Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.

6 For behold, you have loved truth. The obscure and hidden things of your wisdom, you have manifested to me.

Behold, Thou desirest truth in the inward parts; make me, therefore, to know wisdom in mine inmost heart.

7 You will sprinkle me with hyssop, and I will be cleansed. You will wash me, and I will be made whiter than snow.

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

8 In my hearing, you will grant gladness and rejoicing. And the bones that have been humbled will exult.

Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which Thou hast crushed may rejoice.

9 Turn your face away from my sins, and erase all my iniquities.

Hide Thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

10 Create a clean heart in me, O God. And renew an upright spirit within my inmost being.

Create me a clean heart, O God; and renew a stedfast spirit within me.

11 Do not cast me away from your face; and do not take your Holy Spirit from me.

Cast me not away from Thy presence; and take not Thy holy spirit from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and confirm me with an unsurpassed spirit.

Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation; and let a willing spirit uphold me.

13 I will teach the unjust your ways, and the impious will be converted to you.

Then will I teach transgressors Thy ways; and sinners shall return unto Thee.

14 Free me from blood, O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue will extol your justice.

Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, Thou God of my salvation; so shall my tongue sing aloud of Thy righteousness.

15 O Lord, you will open my lips, and my mouth will announce your praise.

O Lord, open Thou my lips; and my mouth shall declare Thy praise.

16 For if you had desired sacrifice, I would certainly have given it, but with holocausts, you will not be delighted.

For Thou delightest not in sacrifice, else would I give it; Thou hast no pleasure in burnt-offering.

17 A crushed spirit is a sacrifice to God. A contrite and humbled heart, O God, you will not spurn.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise.

18 Act kindly, Lord, in your good will toward Zion, so that the walls of Jerusalem may be built up.

Do good in Thy favour unto Zion; build Thou the walls of Jerusalem.

19 Then you will accept the sacrifice of justice, oblations, and holocausts. Then they will lay calves upon your altar.

Then wilt Thou delight in the sacrifices of righteousness, in burnt-offering and whole offering; then will they offer bullocks upon Thine altar.