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 leader of the music. A psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after his intercourse with Bathsheba.” Be gracious unto me, O God! according to thy loving kindness; According to the greatness of thy mercy, blot out my transgressions!
2 Wash away all my guilt; cleanse me from my sin.
Wash me thoroughly from my 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 ever 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 in thy sight have I done evil; So that thou art just in thy sentence, And righteous in thy judgment.
5 It's true that I was born guilty—sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
Behold! I was born in iniquity, And in sin did my mother conceive me.
6 But you want truth on the inside; you teach me wisdom deep within.
Behold! thou desirest truth in the heart; So teach me wisdom in my inmost soul!
7 Purify me with hyssop so I can be clean; wash me so I can be whiter than snow.
Purge me with hyssop, until I be clean; Wash me, until I 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 joy and gladness, So 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 my iniquities!
10 Create a pure mind in me, God, and make me trustworthy again.
Create within me a clean heart, O God! Renew within me a steadfast spirit!
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 thy 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 thy protection, And strengthen me with a willing spirit!
13 Then I will teach your ways to rebellious people, and these sinners will come back to you.
Then will I teach thy ways to transgressors, And sinners shall be converted to 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 the guilt of blood, O God, the God of my salvation! That my tongue may sing aloud of thy goodness!
15 Open my lips so I can speak your praise!
O Lord! open thou my lips, That my mouth may show forth 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 delightest not in burnt-offerings.
17 The “sacrifices” that God wants are on the inside—the brokenness of repentance. God won't reject a broken and sorrowful heart.
The sacrifice which God loveth is a broken spirit; A broken and contrite heart, O God! thou wilt not despise!
18 Be kind to Zion, help the city; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
Do good to Zion according to thy mercy; Build up 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 be pleased with sacrifices of righteousness, With burnt-offerings and complete offerings; Then shall bullocks be offered upon thine altar.
