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.

Have gracious pity on me, God, according to your chesed ·loving-kindness·. According to the multitude of your tender rachamim ·merciful loves·, blot out my rebellious breaches of relationships.

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

Wash me thoroughly from my depravity (moral evil). Cleanse me from my habitual sin ·missing the mark·.

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

For I know my rebellious breaches of relationships. My habitual sin ·missing the mark· is constantly 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, and you only, have I sinned ·deviated (from the standard goal)·, and done that which is evil in your sight; that you may be proved right when you speak, and justified when you judge.

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

Behold, I was born in depravity (moral evil). In crime deserving penalty, sin ·missing the goal· my mother conceived me.

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

Behold, you desire truth in the inward parts. You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

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

Cleanse sin ·err (the standard goal)· from me with hyssop, and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

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

Let me sh'ma ·hear obey· joy and gladness, That the bones which you have broken may rejoice.

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

Hide your face from my crimes deserving penalty, sins ·missing the goal·, and blot out all of my depravities (moral evils).

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

Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.

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

Don’t throw me from your presence, and don’t take your Ruach Kodesh [Holy Spirit, Breath] 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 yesha' ·salvation·. Uphold me with a willing spirit.

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

Then I will teach the rebellious who break away from authority thus breaking relationship, teach them your ways. People who sin ·intentionally miss the mark goal· shall be converted 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 the guilt of bloodshed, O God, the God of my salvation. My tongue shall sing aloud of your righteousness.

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

Adonai, open my lips. My mouth shall declare your tehilah ·praise song·.

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

For you don’t delight in sacrifice, or else I would give it. You have no pleasure in burnt offering.

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 contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

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

Do well in your good pleasure to Zion [Mountain ridge, Marking]. Build the walls of Jerusalem [City of peace].

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

Then you will delight in the sacrifices of righteousness, in burnt offerings and in whole burnt offerings. Then they will offer bulls on your altar.