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.

O God, be merciful to me, because you love me faithfully; because you are very merciful, erase [the record of] the ways that I disobeyed you!

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

Make me pure from the wrong things that I have done; make me clean from [the guilt of] my sin.

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

[I say that] because I know the ways that I have disobeyed you; I cannot forget them.

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.

You, you only, are the one that I have [really] sinned against, and you have seen the evil things that I have done. When you say that I am guilty, you are right/correct, and when you judge me, you justly say [that I deserve to be punished].

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

I have been a sinner since the day that I was born; [truly], I have been like that since 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].

What you desire is that I desire what is true in order that you [can] teach me how to act wisely.

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

Purify me from the guilt of my sins, and [after that happens], I will be clean [in my inner being]; cleanse me, and [then in my inner being] I will be (whiter than snow/very clean).

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

Allow/Cause me to be joyful [DOU] again; you have (crushed my spirit/completely discouraged me) [MTY]; [but now] let me rejoice [again].

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

Do not continue to look at the sins [IDM] that I have committed; erase the record of the evil things that I have done.

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

O God, cause my inner being to be pure. Put new [thoughts] within me and make me faithful again.

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

Do not send me away from you [because of my sin], 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.—

Cause/Allow me to be happy again because of [knowing] that you have freed me [from the guilt of my sin], and make me willing [to obey you].

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

If you do that, I will [be able to] teach [other] sinners what you want them to do, and they will repent and begin to obey you.

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

O God, you are the one who saves me; forgive me for being guilty of causing someone [who was not my enemy] to die. [When you do that], I will sing joyfully about your being very good and righteous.

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

O Yahweh, help me to speak [in order that] I may praise you.

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

You are not pleased [only] with the sacrifices [that people bring to you]. If that were [enough to] please you, I would bring you sacrifices. You are not pleased with burnt offerings [alone].

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

The sacrifice that you [really] want is for people to be truly humble and sorry [for having sinned]; O God, you will not refuse that kind of sacrifice.

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

[O God], be good to [the people who live in] Jerusalem [MTY], [and help them] to rebuild the city walls.

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.

When that happens, [they will bring you] the proper sacrifices, animals that they will completely burn, young bulls that they will burn on your altar, and you will be pleased.