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 in unto him of Nathan the prophet, when he hath gone in unto Bath-Sheba. Favour me, O God, according to Thy kindness, According to the abundance of Thy mercies, Blot out my transgressions.

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

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

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

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

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 Thee, Thee only, I have sinned, And done the evil thing in Thine eyes, So that Thou art righteous in Thy words, Thou art pure in Thy judging.

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

Lo, in iniquity I have been brought forth, And in sin doth my mother conceive me.

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

Lo, truth Thou hast desired in the inward parts, And in the hidden part Wisdom Thou causest me to know.

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

Thou cleansest me with hyssop and I am clean, Washest me, and than snow I am whiter.

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

Thou causest me to hear joy and gladness, Thou makest joyful bones Thou hast bruised.

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

Hide Thy face from my sin. And all mine iniquities blot out.

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

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

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

Cast me not forth from Thy presence, And Thy Holy Spirit take not from me.

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

Restore to me the joy of Thy salvation, And a willing spirit doth sustain me.

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

I teach transgressors Thy ways, And sinners unto Thee do return.

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 singeth of Thy righteousness.

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

O Lord, my lips thou dost open, And my mouth declareth Thy praise.

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

For Thou desirest not sacrifice, or I give [it], Burnt-offering Thou acceptest not.

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, Thou dost 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 Thy good pleasure with Zion, Thou dost 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 Thou desirest sacrifices of righteousness, Burnt-offering, and whole burnt-offering, Then they offer bullocks on thine altar!