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.
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 my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
Let all my wrongdoing be washed away, and make me clean from evil.
3 For of my transgressions I have full knowledge; and my sin is before me continually.
For I am conscious of my error; 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 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 Behold, in iniquity was I brought forth; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Truly, I was formed in evil, and in sin did my mother give me birth.
6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: therefore do thou cause me to know wisdom in the recesses [of the heart].
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 Cleanse me from sin with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Make me free from sin with hyssop: let me be washed whiter than snow.
8 Cause me to hear gladness and joy; that the bones which thou hast crushed may rejoice.
Make me full of joy and rapture; so that the bones which have been broken may be glad.
9 Hide thy face from my sins, and all my iniquities do thou blot out.
Let your face be turned from my wrongdoing, and take away all my sins.
10 Create unto me a clean heart, O God; and a firm spirit renew thou within me.
Make a clean heart in me, O God; give me a right spirit again.
11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and thy holy spirit do not take from me.
Do not put me away from before you, or take your holy spirit from me.
12 Restore unto me the gladness of thy salvation; and with a liberal spirit do thou support me.—
Give me back the joy of your salvation; let a free spirit be my support.
13 I will teach transgressors thy ways, and sinners shall return unto thee.
Then will I make your ways clear to wrongdoers; and sinners will be turned to you.
14 Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation; [that] my tongue may sing aloud of thy 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, open thou my lips, and my mouth shall declare thy praise.
O Lord, let my lips be open, so that my mouth may make clear your praise.
16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: in burnt-offering hast thou no delight.
You have no desire for an offering or I would give it; you have no delight in burned offerings.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, wilt thou 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 in thy favor unto Zion; build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
Do good to Zion in your good pleasure, building up 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 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.
