Psalms 51
1 For the music director. A psalm of David. When Nathan the prophet came to him after he had committed adultery with Bathsheba. God, please be gracious to me, because of your trustworthy love, because of your infinite kindness please wipe away my sins.
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.
2 Wash away all my guilt; cleanse me from my sin.
Wash me fully from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
3 I admit my rebellion; my sin always stares me in my face.
For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is continually before me.
4 I have sinned against you, you alone. I have done evil in your sight. So you are right in what you say, and fair when you judge.
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.
5 It's true that I was born guilty—sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
Behold, in iniquity was I brought forth, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6 But you want truth on the inside; you teach me wisdom deep within.
Behold, thou wilt have truth in the inward parts; and in the hidden [part] thou wilt make me to know wisdom.
7 Purify me with hyssop so I can be clean; wash me so I can be whiter than snow.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Please let me hear joy and happiness again; let the bones you have crushed be glad once more.
Make me to hear gladness and joy; [that] the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
9 Turn your face away from looking at my sins; please wipe away my guilt.
Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
10 Create a pure mind in me, God, and make me trustworthy again.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Don't expel me from your presence; don't take away your Holy Spirit from me.
Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not the spirit of thy holiness from me.
12 Give me back the happiness of your salvation; help me to have a willing nature.
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and let a willing spirit sustain me.
13 Then I will teach your ways to rebellious people, and these sinners will come back to you.
I will teach transgressors thy ways, and sinners shall return unto thee.
14 God, please forgive me for the blood I have shed, God of my salvation, and I will sing for joy of your goodness.
Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
15 Open my lips so I can speak your praise!
Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare thy praise.
16 For sacrifices don't make you happy, or I would bring one; burnt offerings aren't what pleases you.
For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou hast no pleasure in burnt-offering.
17 The “sacrifices” that God wants are on the inside—the brokenness of repentance. God won't reject a broken and sorrowful heart.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
18 Be kind to Zion, help the city; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion; build the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then you will be pleased with sacrifices given in the right spirit, for all kinds of burnt offerings, and bulls sacrificed on your altar once more.
Then shalt thou have sacrifices of righteousness, burnt-offering, and whole burnt-offering; then shall they offer up bullocks upon thine altar.
