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.

O God, be merciful to me, because you love me faithfully; because you are very merciful, erase [the record of] the ways that I disobeyed you!

2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquitie, and clense me from my sinne.

Make me pure from the wrong things that I have done; make me clean from [the guilt of] my sin.

3 For I know mine iniquities, and my sinne is euer before me.

[I say that] because I know the ways that I have disobeyed you; I cannot forget them.

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.

You, you only, are the one that I have [really] sinned against, and you have seen the evil things that I have done. When you say that I am guilty, you are right/correct, and when you judge me, you justly say [that I deserve to be punished].

5 Beholde, I was borne in iniquitie, and in sinne hath my mother conceiued me.

I have been a sinner since the day that I was born; [truly], I have been like that since 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.

What you desire is that I desire what is true in order that you [can] teach me how to act wisely.

7 Purge me with hyssope, and I shalbe cleane: wash me, and I shalbe whiter then snowe.

Purify me from the guilt of my sins, and [after that happens], I will be clean [in my inner being]; cleanse me, and [then in my inner being] I will be (whiter than snow/very clean).

8 Make me to heare ioye and gladnes, that the bones, which thou hast broken, may reioyce.

Allow/Cause me to be joyful [DOU] again; you have (crushed my spirit/completely discouraged me) [MTY]; [but now] let me rejoice [again].

9 Hide thy face from my sinnes, and put away all mine iniquities.

Do not continue to look at the sins [IDM] that I have committed; erase the record of the evil things that I have done.

10 Create in mee a cleane heart, O God, and renue a right spirit within me.

O God, cause my inner being to be pure. Put new [thoughts] within me and make me faithful again.

11 Cast mee not away from thy presence, and take not thine holy Spirit from me.

Do not send me away from you [because of my sin], and do not take your Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore to me the ioy of thy saluation, and stablish me with thy free Spirit.

Cause/Allow me to be happy again because of [knowing] that you have freed me [from the guilt of my sin], and make me willing [to obey you].

13 Then shall I teache thy wayes vnto the wicked, and sinners shalbe conuerted vnto thee.

If you do that, I will [be able to] teach [other] sinners what you want them to do, and they will repent and begin to obey you.

14 Deliuer me from blood, O God, which art the God of my saluation, and my tongue shall sing ioyfully of thy righteousnes.

O God, you are the one who saves me; forgive me for being guilty of causing someone [who was not my enemy] to die. [When you do that], I will sing joyfully about your being very good and righteous.

15 Open thou my lippes, O Lord, and my mouth shall shewe foorth thy praise.

O Yahweh, help me to speak [in order that] I may praise you.

16 For thou desirest no sacrifice, though I would giue it: thou delitest not in burnt offering.

You are not pleased [only] with the sacrifices [that people bring to you]. If that were [enough to] please you, I would bring you sacrifices. You are not pleased with burnt offerings [alone].

17 The sacrifices of God are a contrite spirit: a contrite and a broken heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

The sacrifice that you [really] want is for people to be truly humble and sorry [for having sinned]; O God, you will not refuse that kind of sacrifice.

18 Bee fauourable vnto Zion for thy good pleasure: builde the walles of Ierusalem.

[O God], be good to [the people who live in] Jerusalem [MTY], [and help them] to rebuild the city walls.

19 Then shalt thou accept ye sacrifices of righteousnes, euen the burnt offering and oblation: then shall they offer calues vpon thine altar.

When that happens, [they will bring you] the proper sacrifices, animals that they will completely burn, young bulls that they will burn on your altar, and you will be pleased.