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.
[For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.] Have mercy on me, God, according to your loving kindness. According to the multitude of your 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. 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. My sin is constantly 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, and you only, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in your sight; that you may be proved right when you speak, and justified when you judge.
5 Behold, in iniquity was I brought forth; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Look, I was brought forth in iniquity. 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].
Look, you desire truth in the inward parts. You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.
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 will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Cause me to hear gladness and joy; that the bones which thou hast crushed may rejoice.
Let me hear joy and gladness, That the bones which you have broken may rejoice.
9 Hide thy face from my sins, and all my iniquities do thou blot out.
Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all of 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. Renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and thy holy spirit do not take from me.
Do not throw me from your presence, and do not take your 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 your salvation. Uphold me with a willing spirit.
13 I will teach transgressors thy ways, and sinners shall return unto thee.
Then I will teach transgressors your ways. Sinners shall be converted to you.
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 bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation. My tongue shall sing aloud of your righteousness.
15 O Lord, open thou my lips, and my mouth shall declare thy praise.
Lord, open my lips. My mouth shall declare your praise.
16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: in burnt-offering hast thou no delight.
For you do not delight in sacrifice, or else I would give it. You 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, you will not despise.
18 Do good in thy favor unto Zion; build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
Do well in your good pleasure to Zion. Build 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 delight in the sacrifices of righteousness, in burnt offerings and in whole burnt offerings. Then they will offer bulls on your altar.
