Psalms 51
1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
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 iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
Wash away all my guilt; cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
I admit my rebellion; my sin always stares me in my face.
4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
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 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
It's true that I was born guilty—sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
But you want truth on the inside; you teach me wisdom deep within.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Purify me with hyssop so I can be clean; wash me so I can be whiter than snow.
8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
Please let me hear joy and happiness again; let the bones you have crushed be glad once more.
9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
Turn your face away from looking at my sins; please wipe away my guilt.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Create a pure mind in me, God, and make me trustworthy again.
11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
Don't expel me from your presence; don't take away your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
Give me back the happiness of your salvation; help me to have a willing nature.
13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
Then I will teach your ways to rebellious people, and these sinners will come back to you.
14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
God, please forgive me for the blood I have shed, God of my salvation, and I will sing for joy of your goodness.
15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
Open my lips so I can speak your praise!
16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest 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 broken spirit: a broken and a contrite 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 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
Be kind to Zion, help the city; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon 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.
