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.

TO THE OVERSEER. A PSALM OF DAVID, IN THE COMING OF NATHAN THE PROPHET TO HIM WHEN HE HAS GONE IN TO BATHSHEBA. Favor me, O God, according to Your kindness, According to the abundance of Your mercies, Blot out my transgressions.

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

Thoroughly wash me from my 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] continually 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 You, You only, I have sinned, And done evil in Your eyes, So that You are righteous in Your words, You are pure in Your judging.

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

Behold, I have been brought forth in iniquity, And my mother conceives me in sin.

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

Behold, You have desired truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You cause me to know Wisdom.

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

You cleanse me with hyssop and I am clean, Wash me, and I am whiter than snow.

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

You cause me to hear joy and gladness, You make bones You have bruised joyful.

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

Hide Your face from my sin. And blot out all my iniquities.

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

Create for me a clean heart, O God, And renew a right spirit within me.

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

Do not cast me forth from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

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

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And a willing spirit sustains me.

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

I teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners return to You.

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

Deliver me from blood, O God, God of my salvation, My tongue sings of Your righteousness.

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

O Lord, you open my lips, And my mouth declares Your praise.

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

For You do not desire sacrifice, or I give [it], You do not accept 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 heart broken and bruised, O God, You do 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 Your good pleasure with Zion, You build 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 You desire sacrifices of righteousness, Burnt-offering, and whole burnt-offering, Then they offer bullocks on your altar!