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.
[For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.] Have mercy on me, God, according to your loving kindness. According to the multitude of your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash away all my guilt; cleanse me from my sin.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity. Cleanse me from my sin.
3 I admit my rebellion; my sin always stares me in my face.
For I know my transgressions. My sin is constantly 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 you, and you only, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in your sight; that you may be proved right when you speak, and justified when you judge.
5 It's true that I was born guilty—sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
Look, I was brought forth in iniquity. In sin my mother conceived me.
6 But you want truth on the inside; you teach me wisdom deep within.
Look, you desire truth in the inward parts. You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.
7 Purify me with hyssop so I can be clean; wash me so I can be whiter than snow.
Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Please let me hear joy and happiness again; let the bones you have crushed be glad once more.
Let me hear joy and gladness, That the bones which you have broken may rejoice.
9 Turn your face away from looking at my sins; please wipe away my guilt.
Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all of my iniquities.
10 Create a pure mind in me, God, and make me trustworthy again.
Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.
11 Don't expel me from your presence; don't take away your Holy Spirit from me.
Do not throw me from your presence, and do not take your holy Spirit from me.
12 Give me back the happiness of your salvation; help me to have a willing nature.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation. Uphold me with a willing spirit.
13 Then I will teach your ways to rebellious people, and these sinners will come back to you.
Then I will teach transgressors your ways. Sinners shall be converted to you.
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 bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation. My tongue shall sing aloud of your righteousness.
15 Open my lips so I can speak your praise!
Lord, open my lips. My mouth shall declare your praise.
16 For sacrifices don't make you happy, or I would bring one; burnt offerings aren't what pleases you.
For you do not delight in sacrifice, or else I would give it. You have 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 contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
18 Be kind to Zion, help the city; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
Do well in your good pleasure to 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 you will delight in the sacrifices of righteousness, in burnt offerings and in whole burnt offerings. Then they will offer bulls on your altar.
