Psalms 51

1 TO THE OVERSEER. A PSALM OF DAVID, IN THE COMING OF NATHAN THE PROPHET TO HIM WHEN HE HAS GONE IN TO BATHSHEBA. Favor me, O God, according to Your kindness, According to the abundance of Your 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 Thoroughly wash me from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin,

Let all my wrongdoing be washed away, and make me clean from evil.

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

For I am conscious of my error; my sin is ever before me.

4 Against You, You only, I have sinned, And done evil in Your eyes, So that You are righteous in Your words, You are pure in Your judging.

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, I have been brought forth in iniquity, And my mother conceives me in sin.

Truly, I was formed in evil, and in sin did my mother give me birth.

6 Behold, You have desired truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You cause me to know Wisdom.

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 You cleanse me with hyssop and I am clean, Wash me, and I am whiter than snow.

Make me free from sin with hyssop: let me be washed whiter than snow.

8 You cause me to hear joy and gladness, You make bones You have bruised joyful.

Make me full of joy and rapture; so that the bones which have been broken may be glad.

9 Hide Your face from my sin. And blot out all my iniquities.

Let your face be turned from my wrongdoing, and take away all my sins.

10 Create for me a clean heart, O God, And renew a right spirit within me.

Make a clean heart in me, O God; give me a right spirit again.

11 Do not cast me forth from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

Do not put me away from before you, or take your holy spirit from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And a willing spirit sustains me.

Give me back the joy of your salvation; let a free spirit be my support.

13 I teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners return to You.

Then will I make your ways clear to wrongdoers; and sinners will be turned to you.

14 Deliver me from blood, O God, God of my salvation, My tongue sings of Your 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, you open my lips, And my mouth declares Your praise.

O Lord, let my lips be open, so that my mouth may make clear your praise.

16 For You do not desire sacrifice, or I give [it], You do not accept burnt-offering.

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 heart broken and bruised, O God, You do 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 Your good pleasure with Zion, You build the walls of Jerusalem.

Do good to Zion in your good pleasure, building up the walls of Jerusalem.

19 Then You desire sacrifices of righteousness, Burnt-offering, and whole burnt-offering, Then they offer bullocks on your 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.