Psalms 51
1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your loving kindness: according to the multitude of your tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
To the Chief Musician. A Melody of David. When Nathan the Prophet had come to him, after he had gone in unto Bath-sheba. Be favorable unto me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness, And, in the multitude of thy compassions, blot out my transgressions;
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
Thoroughly wash me from mine iniquity, And, from my sin, make me pure;
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
For, my transgressions, do, I, acknowledge, And, my sin, is before me continually:
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned, and done this evil in your sight: that you might be justified when you speak, and be clear when you judge.
Against thee—against thee alone, have I sinned, And, wickedness—in thine eyes, have I done, —That thou mayest, Be justified when thou speakest, —Be clear when thou judgest.
5 Behold, I was shaped in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Lo! in iniquity, was I brought forth, And, in sin, did my mother conceive me.
6 Behold, you desire truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part you shall make me to know wisdom.
Lo! faithfulness, hast thou desired in the inward parts, Yea, in the hidden part, wilt thou cause me to know, wisdom.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Wilt thou cleanse me from sin with hyssop, That I may be pure? Wilt thou wash me, That I may be whiter, than snow?
8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which you have broken may rejoice.
Wilt thou cause me to hear joy and gladness? The bones thou hast crushed would exult.
9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.
Hide thy face from my sins, —And, all mine iniquities, blot out;
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
A pure heart, create for me, O God, And, a steadfast spirit, renew within me.
11 Cast me not away from your presence; and take not your holy spirit from me.
Do not cast me away from thy presence, And, thy Holy Spirit, do not take from me:
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation; and uphold me with your free spirit.
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, And, with a willing spirit, wilt thou uphold me: —
13 Then will I teach transgressors your ways; and sinners shall be converted to you.
I would teach transgressors thy ways, And, sinners, unto thee, should return.
14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, you God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of your righteousness.
Rescue me from shed-blood, O God, the God of my salvation, My tongue should shout thy righteousness;
15 O Lord, open you my lips; and my mouth shall show forth your praise.
O My Lord! my lips, wilt thou open, And, my mouth, shall declare thy praise.
16 For you desire not sacrifice; else would I give it: you delight not in burnt offering.
For thou wilt not desire sacrifice—that I should give it, Ascending-offering, will not please:
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
The sacrifices of God, are a spirit that is broken, —A heart—broken and crushed, O God, thou wilt not despise.
18 Do good in your good pleasure to Zion: build you the walls of Jerusalem.
Do good, in thy good-pleasure, unto Zion, Wilt thou build the walls of Jerusalem!
19 Then shall you be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks on your altar.
Then, shalt thou desire the sacrifices of righteousness, Ascending-sacrifice and whole burnt-offering, Then, shall ascend upon thine altar, young bulls.
