Psalms 51
1 To him that excelleth. A Psalme of David, when the Prophet Nathan came unto him, after he had gone in to Bath-sheba. Have mercie vpon me, O God, according to thy louing kindnes: according to the multitude of thy compassions put away mine iniquities.
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.
2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquitie, and clense me from my sinne.
Wash away all my guilt; cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know mine iniquities, and my sinne is euer before me.
I admit my rebellion; my sin always stares me in my face.
4 Against thee, against thee onely haue I sinned, and done euill in thy sight, that thou mayest be iust when thou speakest, and pure when thou iudgest.
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.
5 Beholde, I was borne in iniquitie, and in sinne hath my mother conceiued me.
It's true that I was born guilty—sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
6 Beholde, thou louest trueth in the inwarde affections: therefore hast thou taught mee wisedome in the secret of mine heart.
But you want truth on the inside; you teach me wisdom deep within.
7 Purge me with hyssope, and I shalbe cleane: wash me, and I shalbe whiter then snowe.
Purify me with hyssop so I can be clean; wash me so I can be whiter than snow.
8 Make me to heare ioye and gladnes, that the bones, which thou hast broken, may reioyce.
Please let me hear joy and happiness again; let the bones you have crushed be glad once more.
9 Hide thy face from my sinnes, and put away all mine iniquities.
Turn your face away from looking at my sins; please wipe away my guilt.
10 Create in mee a cleane heart, O God, and renue a right spirit within me.
Create a pure mind in me, God, and make me trustworthy again.
11 Cast mee not away from thy presence, and take not thine holy Spirit from me.
Don't expel me from your presence; don't take away your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the ioy of thy saluation, and stablish me with thy free Spirit.
Give me back the happiness of your salvation; help me to have a willing nature.
13 Then shall I teache thy wayes vnto the wicked, and sinners shalbe conuerted vnto thee.
Then I will teach your ways to rebellious people, and these sinners will come back to you.
14 Deliuer me from blood, O God, which art the God of my saluation, and my tongue shall sing ioyfully of thy righteousnes.
God, please forgive me for the blood I have shed, God of my salvation, and I will sing for joy of your goodness.
15 Open thou my lippes, O Lord, and my mouth shall shewe foorth thy praise.
Open my lips so I can speak your praise!
16 For thou desirest no sacrifice, though I would giue it: thou delitest not in burnt offering.
For sacrifices don't make you happy, or I would bring one; burnt offerings aren't what pleases you.
17 The sacrifices of God are a contrite spirit: a contrite and a broken heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
The “sacrifices” that God wants are on the inside—the brokenness of repentance. God won't reject a broken and sorrowful heart.
18 Bee fauourable vnto Zion for thy good pleasure: builde the walles of Ierusalem.
Be kind to Zion, help the city; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then shalt thou accept ye sacrifices of righteousnes, euen the burnt offering and oblation: then shall they offer calues vpon thine altar.
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.
