Psalms 51
1 For the end, a Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, when he had gone to Bersabee. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to your great mercy; and according to the multitude of your compassions blot out my transgression.
To the chief music-maker. A Psalm. Of David. When Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bath-sheba. Have pity on me, O God, in your mercy; out of a full heart, take away my sin.
2 Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
Let all my wrongdoing be washed away, and make me clean from evil.
3 For I am conscious of mine iniquity; and my sin is continually before me.
For I am conscious of my error; my sin is ever before me.
4 Against you only have I sinned, and done evil before you: that you might be justified in your sayings, and might overcome when you are judged.
Against you, you only, have I done wrong, working that which is evil in your eyes; so that your words may be seen to be right, and you may be clear when you are judging.
5 For, behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sins did my mother conceive me.
Truly, I was formed in evil, and in sin did my mother give me birth.
6 For, behold, you love truth: you have manifested to me the secret and hidden things of your wisdom.
Your desire is for what is true in the inner parts: in the secrets of my soul you will give me knowledge of wisdom.
7 You shall sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be purified: you shall wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow.
Make me free from sin with hyssop: let me be washed whiter than snow.
8 You shall cause me to hear gladness and joy: the afflicted bones shall rejoice.
Make me full of joy and rapture; so that the bones which have been broken may be glad.
9 Turn away your face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
Let your face be turned from my wrongdoing, and take away all my sins.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit in my inward parts.
Make a clean heart in me, O God; give me a right spirit again.
11 Cast me not away from your presence; and remove not your holy Spirit from me.
Do not put me away from before you, or take your holy spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation: establish me with your directing Spirit.
Give me back the joy of your salvation; let a free spirit be my support.
13 [Then] will I teach transgressors your ways; and ungodly men shall turn to you.
Then will I make your ways clear to wrongdoers; and sinners will be turned to you.
14 Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation: [and] my tongue shall joyfully declare your righteousness.
Be my saviour from violent death, O God, the God of my salvation; and my tongue will give praise to your righteousness.
15 O Lord, you shall open my lips; and my mouth shall declare your praise.
O Lord, let my lips be open, so that my mouth may make clear your praise.
16 For if you desired sacrifice, I would have given [it]: you will not take pleasure in whole burnt offerings.
You have no desire for an offering or I would give it; you have no delight in burned offerings.
17 Sacrifice to God is a broken spirit: a broken and humbled heart God will not despise.
The offerings of God are a broken spirit; a broken and sorrowing heart, O God, you will not put from you.
18 Do good, O Lord, to Sion in your good pleasure; and let the walls of Jerusalem be built.
Do good to Zion in your good pleasure, building up the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then shall you be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, offering, and whole burnt sacrifices: then shall they offer calves upon your altar.
Then you will have delight in the offerings of righteousness, in burned offerings and offerings of beasts; then they will make offerings of oxen on your altar.
