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.

Unto the end. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he went to Bathsheba. Be merciful to me, O God, according to your great mercy. And, according to the plentitude of your compassion, wipe out my iniquity.

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

Wash me once again from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I am conscious of mine iniquity; and my sin is continually before me.

For I know my iniquity, and 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 only have I sinned, and I have done evil before your eyes. And so, you are justified in your words, and you will prevail when you give judgment.

5 For, behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sins did my mother conceive me.

For behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sinfulness did my mother conceive me.

6 For, behold, you love truth: you have manifested to me the secret and hidden things of your wisdom.

For behold, you have loved truth. The obscure and hidden things of your wisdom, you have manifested to me.

7 You shall sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be purified: you shall wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow.

You will sprinkle me with hyssop, and I will be cleansed. You will wash me, and I will be made whiter than snow.

8 You shall cause me to hear gladness and joy: the afflicted bones shall rejoice.

In my hearing, you will grant gladness and rejoicing. And the bones that have been humbled will exult.

9 Turn away your face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

Turn your face away from my sins, and erase all my iniquities.

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

Create a clean heart in me, O God. And renew an upright spirit within my inmost being.

11 Cast me not away from your presence; and remove not your holy Spirit from me.

Do not cast me away from your face; and do not take your Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation: establish me with your directing Spirit.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and confirm me with an unsurpassed spirit.

13 [Then] will I teach transgressors your ways; and ungodly men shall turn to you.

I will teach the unjust your ways, and the impious will be converted to you.

14 Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation: [and] my tongue shall joyfully declare your righteousness.

Free me from blood, O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue will extol your justice.

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

O Lord, you will open my lips, and my mouth will announce your praise.

16 For if you desired sacrifice, I would have given [it]: you will not take pleasure in whole burnt offerings.

For if you had desired sacrifice, I would certainly have given it, but with holocausts, you will not be delighted.

17 Sacrifice to God is a broken spirit: a broken and humbled heart God will not despise.

A crushed spirit is a sacrifice to God. A contrite and humbled heart, O God, you will not spurn.

18 Do good, O Lord, to Sion in your good pleasure; and let the walls of Jerusalem be built.

Act kindly, Lord, in your good will toward Zion, so that the walls of Jerusalem may be built up.

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 accept the sacrifice of justice, oblations, and holocausts. Then they will lay calves upon your altar.