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.

For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, God, according to your loving kindness. According to the multitude of your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity. Cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

For I know my transgressions. My sin is constantly before me.

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 you, and you only, I have sinned, and done that which is evil in your sight, so you may be proved right when you speak, and justified when you judge.

5 Behold, I was shaped in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Behold, I was born in iniquity. My mother conceived me in sin.

6 Behold, you desire truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part you shall make me to know wisdom.

Behold, you desire truth in the inward parts. You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which you have broken may rejoice.

Let me hear joy and gladness, that the bones which you have broken may rejoice.

9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.

Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all of my iniquities.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.

11 Cast me not away from your presence; and take not your holy spirit from me.

Don’t throw me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation; and uphold me with your free spirit.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation. Uphold me with a willing spirit.

13 Then will I teach transgressors your ways; and sinners shall be converted to you.

Then I will teach transgressors your ways. Sinners will be converted to you.

14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, you God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of your righteousness.

Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, the God of my salvation. My tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.

15 O Lord, open you my lips; and my mouth shall show forth your praise.

Lord, open my lips. My mouth will declare your praise.

16 For you desire not sacrifice; else would I give it: you delight not in burnt offering.

For you don’t delight in sacrifice, or else I would give it. You have no pleasure in burnt offering.

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 broken spirit. O God, you will not despise a broken and contrite heart.

18 Do good in your good pleasure to Zion: build you the walls of Jerusalem.

Do well in your good pleasure to Zion. 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 you will delight in the sacrifices of righteousness, in burnt offerings and in whole burnt offerings. Then they will offer bulls on your altar.