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.

“To the chief musician, a psalm of David, When Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in unto Bath-sheba'.” Be gracious unto me, O God, according to thy kindness: according to the greatness of thy mercies blot out my transgressions.

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

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

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

For of my transgressions I have full knowledge; and my sin is before me continually.

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, thee only, have I sinned, and what is evil in thy eyes have I done: —in order that thou mightest be righteous when thou speakest, be justified when thou judgest.

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

Behold, in iniquity was I brought forth; and in sin 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.

Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: therefore do thou cause me to know wisdom in the recesses [of the heart].

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

Cleanse me from sin with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

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

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

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

Hide thy face from my sins, and all my iniquities do thou blot out.

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

Create unto me a clean heart, O God; and a firm spirit renew thou within me.

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

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

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

Restore unto me the gladness of thy salvation; and with a liberal spirit do thou support me.—

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

I will teach transgressors thy ways, and sinners shall return unto 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-guiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation; [that] my tongue may sing aloud of thy righteousness.

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

O Lord, open thou 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 thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: in burnt-offering hast thou no delight.

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

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

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

Do good in thy favor unto Zion; build thou the walls of Jerusalem.

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

Then wilt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt-offering and entire offering: then shall bullocks be offered upon thy altar.