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 Overseer. — A Psalm of David, in the coming in unto him of Nathan the prophet, when he hath gone in unto Bath-Sheba. Favour me, O God, according to Thy kindness, According to the abundance of Thy mercies, Blot out my transgressions.

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

Thoroughly wash me from mine iniquity, And from my sin cleanse me,

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

For my transgressions I do know, And my sin [is] before me continually.

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 Thee, Thee only, I have sinned, And done the evil thing in Thine eyes, So that Thou art righteous in Thy words, Thou art pure in Thy judging.

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

Lo, in iniquity I have been brought forth, And in sin doth my mother conceive me.

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

Lo, truth Thou hast desired in the inward parts, And in the hidden part Wisdom Thou causest me to know.

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

Thou cleansest me with hyssop and I am clean, Washest me, and than snow I am whiter.

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

Thou causest me to hear joy and gladness, Thou makest joyful bones Thou hast bruised.

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

Hide Thy face from my sin. And all mine iniquities blot out.

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

A clean heart prepare for me, O God, And a right spirit renew within me.

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

Cast me not forth from Thy presence, And Thy Holy Spirit take not from me.

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

Restore to me the joy of Thy salvation, And a willing spirit doth sustain me.

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

I teach transgressors Thy ways, And sinners unto Thee do return.

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

Deliver me from blood, O God, God of my salvation, My tongue singeth of Thy righteousness.

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

O Lord, my lips thou dost open, And my mouth declareth Thy praise.

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

For Thou desirest not sacrifice, or I give [it], Burnt-offering Thou acceptest not.

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

The sacrifices of God [are] a broken spirit, A heart broken and bruised, O God, Thou dost not despise.

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

Do good in Thy good pleasure with Zion, Thou dost build 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 Thou desirest sacrifices of righteousness, Burnt-offering, and whole burnt-offering, Then they offer bullocks on thine altar!