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 leader. A psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet come to him after he had been with Bathsheba. In your kindness, O God, be gracious to me, in your own great pity blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me fully from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
Wash me clean of my guilt, make me pure of my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is continually before me.
For well I know my transgressions, my sin is ever 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 you, have I sinned, and done that which is wrong in your sight: you therefore are just when you speak, and clear when you utter judgment.
5 Behold, in iniquity was I brought forth, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
See! In guilt was I brought to the birth, 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.
It’s the innermost truth you desire, give me therefore true wisdom of heart.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Purge me clean with hyssop, wash me whiter than snow.
8 Make me to hear gladness and joy; [that] the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
Fill me with joy and gladness, let the bones you have broken rejoice.
9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
Hide your face from my sins, and blot out my guilt altogether.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Create me a clean heart, O God, put a new steadfast spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not the spirit of thy holiness from me.
Cast me not forth from your presence, withdraw not your holy spirit.
12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and let a willing spirit sustain me.
Give me back the joy of your help, with a willing spirit sustain me.
13 I will teach transgressors thy ways, and sinners shall return unto thee.
I will teach your ways to transgressors, and sinners 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.
Save me from blood, O God, and my tongue shall ring out your faithfulness.
15 Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare thy praise.
Open my lips, O Lord, 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 in sacrifice you have no pleasure, in gifts of burnt-offering no delight.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
The sacrifice pleasing to God is a spirit that is broken; a heart that is crushed, O God, you will not despise.
18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion; build the walls of Jerusalem.
Do good in your pleasure to Zion, build 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 will you welcome the due forms of sacrifice, then on your altars shall bullocks be offered.
