Psalms 51

1 To the chief Musician. A Psalm of David; when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bath-sheba. Be gracious unto me, O God, according to thy loving-kindness; according to the abundance of thy tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.

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.

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

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

3 For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is continually before me.

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

4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done what is evil in thy sight; that thou mayest be justified when thou speakest, be clear when thou judgest.

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.

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

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

6 Behold, thou wilt have truth in the inward parts; and in the hidden [part] thou wilt make me to know wisdom.

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

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

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

8 Make me to hear gladness and joy; [that] the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

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

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

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

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

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

11 Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not the spirit of thy holiness from me.

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

12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and let a willing spirit sustain me.

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

13 I will teach transgressors thy ways, and sinners shall return unto thee.

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

14 Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

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

15 Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare thy praise.

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

16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou hast no pleasure in burnt-offering.

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

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

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

18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion; build the walls of Jerusalem.

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

19 Then shalt thou have sacrifices of righteousness, burnt-offering, and whole burnt-offering; then shall they offer up bullocks upon thine altar.

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