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.

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

Wash away all my guilt; cleanse me from my sin.

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

I admit my rebellion; my sin always stares me in my face.

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.

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

It's true that I was born guilty—sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

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

But you want truth on the inside; you teach me wisdom deep within.

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

Purify me with hyssop so I can be clean; wash me so I can be whiter than snow.

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

Please let me hear joy and happiness again; let the bones you have crushed be glad once more.

9 Turn away your 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 in my inward parts.

Create a pure mind in me, God, and make me trustworthy again.

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

Don't expel me from your presence; don't take away your Holy Spirit from me.

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

Give me back the happiness of your salvation; help me to have a willing nature.

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

Then I will teach your ways to rebellious people, and these sinners will come back to you.

14 Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation: [and] my tongue shall joyfully declare your 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, you shall open my lips; and my mouth shall declare your praise.

Open my lips so I can speak your praise!

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

For sacrifices don't make you happy, or I would bring one; burnt offerings aren't what pleases you.

17 Sacrifice to God is a broken spirit: a broken and humbled heart God will 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, O Lord, to Sion in your good pleasure; and let the walls of Jerusalem be built.

Be kind to Zion, help the city; rebuild 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 be pleased with sacrifices given in the right spirit, for all kinds of burnt offerings, and bulls sacrificed on your altar once more.