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.

Unto the end, a psalm of David, When Nathan the prophet came to him after he had sinned with Bethsabee. Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy great mercy. And according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my iniquity.

2 Thoroughly wash me from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin,

Wash me yet more from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

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

For I know my iniquity, and my sin is always 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.

To thee only have I sinned, and have done evil before thee: that thou mayst be justified in thy words and mayst overcome when thou art judged.

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

For behold I was conceived in iniquities; and in sins did my mother conceive me.

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

For behold thou hast loved truth: the uncertain and hidden things of thy wisdom thou hast made manifest to me.

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

Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be cleansed: thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow.

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

To my hearing thou shalt give joy and gladness: and the bones that have been humbled shall rejoice.

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

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

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

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

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

Cast me not away from thy face; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

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

Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and strengthen me with a perfect spirit.

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

I will teach the unjust thy ways: and the wicked shall be converted to thee.

14 Deliver me from blood, O God, God of my salvation, My tongue sings of Your righteousness.

Deliver me from blood, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall extol thy justice.

15 O Lord, you open my lips, And my mouth declares Your praise.

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

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

For if thou hadst desired sacrifice, I would indeed have given it: with burnt offerings thou wilt not be delighted.

17 The sacrifices of God [are] a broken spirit, A heart broken and bruised, O God, You do not despise.

A sacrifice to God is an afflicted spirit: a contrite and humbled heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

18 Do good in Your good pleasure with Zion, You build the walls of Jerusalem.

Deal favourably, O Lord, in thy good will with Sion; that the walls of Jerusalem may be built up.

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

Then shalt thou accept the sacrifice of justice, oblations and whole burnt offerings: then shall they lay calves upon thy altar.