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.

O God, be merciful to me, because you love me faithfully; because you are very merciful, erase [the record of] the ways that I disobeyed you!

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

Make me pure from the wrong things that I have done; make me clean from [the guilt of] my sin.

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

[I say that] because I know the ways that I have disobeyed you; I cannot forget them.

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.

You, you only, are the one that I have [really] sinned against, and you have seen the evil things that I have done. When you say that I am guilty, you are right/correct, and when you judge me, you justly say [that I deserve to be punished].

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

I have been a sinner since the day that I was born; [truly], I have been like that since my mother conceived me.

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

What you desire is that I desire what is true in order that you [can] teach me how to act wisely.

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

Purify me from the guilt of my sins, and [after that happens], I will be clean [in my inner being]; cleanse me, and [then in my inner being] I will be (whiter than snow/very clean).

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

Allow/Cause me to be joyful [DOU] again; you have (crushed my spirit/completely discouraged me) [MTY]; [but now] let me rejoice [again].

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

Do not continue to look at the sins [IDM] that I have committed; erase the record of the evil things that I have done.

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

O God, cause my inner being to be pure. Put new [thoughts] within me and make me faithful again.

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

Do not send me away from you [because of my sin], 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.

Cause/Allow me to be happy again because of [knowing] that you have freed me [from the guilt of my sin], and make me willing [to obey you].

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

If you do that, I will [be able to] teach [other] sinners what you want them to do, and they will repent and begin to obey you.

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

O God, you are the one who saves me; forgive me for being guilty of causing someone [who was not my enemy] to die. [When you do that], I will sing joyfully about your being very good and righteous.

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

O Yahweh, help me to speak [in order that] I may praise you.

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

You are not pleased [only] with the sacrifices [that people bring to you]. If that were [enough to] please you, I would bring you sacrifices. You are not pleased with burnt offerings [alone].

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

The sacrifice that you [really] want is for people to be truly humble and sorry [for having sinned]; O God, you will not refuse that kind of sacrifice.

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

[O God], be good to [the people who live in] Jerusalem [MTY], [and help them] to rebuild the city walls.

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

When that happens, [they will bring you] the proper sacrifices, animals that they will completely burn, young bulls that they will burn on your altar, and you will be pleased.