Psalms 51

1 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.

TO THE OVERSEER. A PSALM OF DAVID, IN THE COMING OF NATHAN THE PROPHET TO HIM WHEN HE HAS GONE IN TO BATHSHEBA. Favor me, O God, according to Your kindness, According to the abundance of Your mercies, Blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me yet more from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

Thoroughly wash me from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin,

3 For I know my iniquity, and my sin is always before me.

For I know my transgressions, And my sin [is] continually before me.

4 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.

Against You, You only, I have sinned, And done evil in Your eyes, So that You are righteous in Your words, You are pure in Your judging.

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

Behold, I have been brought forth in iniquity, And my mother conceives me in sin.

6 For behold thou hast loved truth: the uncertain and hidden things of thy wisdom thou hast made manifest to me.

Behold, You have desired truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You cause me to know Wisdom.

7 Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be cleansed: thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow.

You cleanse me with hyssop and I am clean, Wash me, and I am whiter than snow.

8 To my hearing thou shalt give joy and gladness: and the bones that have been humbled shall rejoice.

You cause me to hear joy and gladness, You make bones You have bruised joyful.

9 Turn away thy face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.

Hide Your face from my sin. And blot out all my iniquities.

10 Create a clean heart in me, O God: and renew a right spirit within my bowels.

Create for me a clean heart, O God, And renew a right spirit within me.

11 Cast me not away from thy face; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

Do not cast me forth from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and strengthen me with a perfect spirit.

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And a willing spirit sustains me.

13 I will teach the unjust thy ways: and the wicked shall be converted to thee.

I teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners return to You.

14 Deliver me from blood, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall extol thy justice.

Deliver me from blood, O God, God of my salvation, My tongue sings of Your righteousness.

15 O Lord, thou wilt open my lips: and my mouth shall declare thy praise.

O Lord, you open my lips, And my mouth declares Your praise.

16 For if thou hadst desired sacrifice, I would indeed have given it: with burnt offerings thou wilt not be delighted.

For You do not desire sacrifice, or I give [it], You do not accept burnt-offering.

17 A sacrifice to God is an afflicted spirit: a contrite and humbled heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

The sacrifices of God [are] a broken spirit, A heart broken and bruised, O God, You do not despise.

18 Deal favourably, O Lord, in thy good will with Sion; that the walls of Jerusalem may be built up.

Do good in Your good pleasure with Zion, You build the walls of Jerusalem.

19 Then shalt thou accept the sacrifice of justice, oblations and whole burnt offerings: then shall they lay calves upon thy altar.

Then You desire sacrifices of righteousness, Burnt-offering, and whole burnt-offering, Then they offer bullocks on your altar!