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.
In finem. Psalmus David, cum venit ad eum Nathan propheta, quando intravit ad Bethsabee. Miserere mei, Deus, secundum magnam misericordiam tuam; et secundum multitudinem miserationum tuarum, dele iniquitatem meam.
2 Wash away all my guilt; cleanse me from my sin.
Amplius lava me ab iniquitate mea, et a peccato meo munda me.
3 I admit my rebellion; my sin always stares me in my face.
Quoniam iniquitatem meam ego cognosco, et peccatum meum contra me est semper.
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.
Tibi soli peccavi, et malum coram te feci; ut justificeris in sermonibus tuis, et vincas cum judicaris.
5 It's true that I was born guilty—sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
Ecce enim in iniquitatibus conceptus sum, et in peccatis concepit me mater mea.
6 But you want truth on the inside; you teach me wisdom deep within.
Ecce enim veritatem dilexisti; incerta et occulta sapientiæ tuæ manifestasti mihi.
7 Purify me with hyssop so I can be clean; wash me so I can be whiter than snow.
Asperges me hyssopo, et mundabor; lavabis me, et super nivem dealbabor.
8 Please let me hear joy and happiness again; let the bones you have crushed be glad once more.
Auditui meo dabis gaudium et lætitiam, et exsultabunt ossa humiliata.
9 Turn your face away from looking at my sins; please wipe away my guilt.
Averte faciem tuam a peccatis meis, et omnes iniquitates meas dele.
10 Create a pure mind in me, God, and make me trustworthy again.
Cor mundum crea in me, Deus, et spiritum rectum innova in visceribus meis.
11 Don't expel me from your presence; don't take away your Holy Spirit from me.
Ne projicias me a facie tua, et spiritum sanctum tuum ne auferas a me.
12 Give me back the happiness of your salvation; help me to have a willing nature.
Redde mihi lætitiam salutaris tui, et spiritu principali confirma me.
13 Then I will teach your ways to rebellious people, and these sinners will come back to you.
Docebo iniquos vias tuas, et impii ad te convertentur.
14 God, please forgive me for the blood I have shed, God of my salvation, and I will sing for joy of your goodness.
Libera me de sanguinibus, Deus, Deus salutis meæ, et exsultabit lingua mea justitiam tuam.
15 Open my lips so I can speak your praise!
Domine, labia mea aperies, et os meum annuntiabit laudem tuam.
16 For sacrifices don't make you happy, or I would bring one; burnt offerings aren't what pleases you.
Quoniam si voluisses sacrificium, dedissem utique; holocaustis non delectaberis.
17 The “sacrifices” that God wants are on the inside—the brokenness of repentance. God won't reject a broken and sorrowful heart.
Sacrificium Deo spiritus contribulatus; cor contritum et humiliatum, Deus, non despicies.
18 Be kind to Zion, help the city; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
Benigne fac, Domine, in bona voluntate tua Sion, ut ædificentur muri 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.
Tunc acceptabis sacrificium justitiæ, oblationes et holocausta; tunc imponent super altare tuum vitulos.
