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.

For the music director. A psalm of David. When Nathan the prophet came to him after he had committed adultery with Bathsheba. God, please be gracious to me, because of your trustworthy love, because of your infinite kindness please wipe away my sins.

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

Wash away all my guilt; cleanse me from my sin.

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

I admit my rebellion; my sin always stares me in my face.

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.

I have sinned against you, you alone. I have done evil in your sight. So you are right in what you say, and fair when you judge.

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

It's true that I was born guilty—sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

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

But you want truth on the inside; you teach me wisdom deep within.

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

Purify me with hyssop so I can be clean; wash me so I can be whiter than snow.

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

Please let me hear joy and happiness again; let the bones you have crushed be glad once more.

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

Turn your face away from looking at my sins; please wipe away my guilt.

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

Create a pure mind in me, God, and make me trustworthy again.

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

Don't expel me from your presence; don't take away your Holy Spirit from me.

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

Give me back the happiness of your salvation; help me to have a willing nature.

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

Then I will teach your ways to rebellious people, and these sinners will come back to you.

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

God, please forgive me for the blood I have shed, God of my salvation, and I will sing for joy of your goodness.

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

Open my lips so I can speak your praise!

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

For sacrifices don't make you happy, or I would bring one; burnt offerings aren't what pleases you.

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

The “sacrifices” that God wants are on the inside—the brokenness of repentance. God won't reject a broken and sorrowful heart.

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

Be kind to Zion, help the city; rebuild 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 be pleased with sacrifices given in the right spirit, for all kinds of burnt offerings, and bulls sacrificed on your altar once more.