Psalms 51

1 “To the chief musician, a psalm of David, When Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in unto Bath-sheba'.” Be gracious unto me, O God, according to thy kindness: according to the greatness of thy mercies blot out my transgressions.

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving kindness. According to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

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

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

3 For of my transgressions I have full knowledge; and my sin is before me continually.

For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.

4 To thee, thee only, have I sinned, and what is evil in thy eyes have I done: —in order that thou mightest be righteous when thou speakest, be justified when thou judgest.

Against thee, thee only, I have sinned, and done that which is evil in thy sight, that thou may be justified when thou speak, and may prevail when thou are criticized.

5 Behold, in iniquity was I brought forth; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.

6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: therefore do thou cause me to know wisdom in the recesses [of the heart].

Behold, thou desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part thou will make me to know wisdom.

7 Cleanse me from sin with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean. Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

8 Cause me to hear gladness and joy; that the bones which thou hast crushed may rejoice.

Make me to hear joy and gladness, that the bones which thou have broken may rejoice.

9 Hide thy face from my sins, and all my iniquities do thou blot out.

Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.

10 Create unto me a clean heart, O God; and a firm spirit renew thou within me.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and thy holy spirit do not take from me.

Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore unto me the gladness of thy salvation; and with a liberal spirit do thou support me.—

Restore to me the joy of thy salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

13 I will teach transgressors thy ways, and sinners shall return unto thee.

Then I will teach transgressors thy ways, and sinners shall be converted to thee.

14 Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation; [that] my tongue may sing aloud of thy righteousness.

Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation. And my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

15 O Lord, open thou my lips, and my mouth shall declare thy praise.

O Lord, open thou my lips, and my mouth shall show forth thy praise.

16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: in burnt-offering hast thou no delight.

For thou delight not in sacrifice, else I would give it. Thou have no pleasure in burnt offering.

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, wilt thou not despise.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. A broken and contrite heart, O God, thou will not despise.

18 Do good in thy favor unto Zion; build thou the walls of Jerusalem.

Do good in thy good pleasure to Zion. Build thou the walls of Jerusalem.

19 Then wilt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt-offering and entire offering: then shall bullocks be offered upon thy altar.

Then thou will delight in the sacrifices of righteousness, in burnt offering and in whole burnt offering. Then they will offer bullocks upon thine altar.