< 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.
Unto the end, a psalm of David, When Nathan the prophet came to him after he had sinned with Bethsabee. Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy great mercy. And according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my iniquity.
2 Wash me fully from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
Wash me yet more from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is continually before me.
For I know my iniquity, and my sin is always 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.
To thee only have I sinned, and have done evil before thee: that thou mayst be justified in thy words and mayst overcome when thou art 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 thou hast loved truth: the uncertain and hidden things of thy wisdom thou hast made manifest to me.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be cleansed: thou shalt 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.
To my hearing thou shalt give joy and gladness: and the bones that have been humbled shall rejoice.
9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
Turn away thy face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Create a clean heart in me, O God: and renew a right spirit within my bowels.
11 Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not the spirit of thy holiness from me.
Cast me not away from thy face; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and let a willing spirit sustain me.
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and strengthen me with a perfect spirit.
13 I will teach transgressors thy ways, and sinners shall return unto thee.
I will teach the unjust thy ways: and the wicked shall be converted to thee.
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, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall extol thy justice.
15 Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare thy praise.
O Lord, thou wilt open my lips: and my mouth shall declare thy praise.
16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou hast no pleasure in burnt-offering.
For if thou hadst desired sacrifice, I would indeed have given it: with burnt offerings thou wilt not be delighted.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
A sacrifice to God is an afflicted spirit: a contrite and humbled heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion; build the walls of Jerusalem.
Deal favourably, O Lord, in thy good will with Sion; that the walls of Jerusalem may be built up.
19 Then shalt thou have sacrifices of righteousness, burnt-offering, and whole burnt-offering; then shall they offer up bullocks upon thine altar.
Then shalt thou accept the sacrifice of justice, oblations and whole burnt offerings: then shall they lay calves upon thy altar.

< Psalms 51 >