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.

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 Thoroughly wash me 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 I know my transgressions, And my sin [is] continually before me.

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

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.

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

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

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

7 You cleanse me with hyssop and I am clean, Wash me, and I am 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 You cause me to hear joy and gladness, You make bones You have bruised joyful.

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

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

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

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

Do not send me away from you [because of my sin], and do not take your Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And a willing spirit sustains 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 teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners return to You.

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, O God, God of my salvation, My tongue sings of Your 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, you open my lips, And my mouth declares Your praise.

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

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

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 heart broken and bruised, O God, You do 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 Your good pleasure with Zion, You build 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 You desire sacrifices of righteousness, Burnt-offering, and whole burnt-offering, Then they offer bullocks on your 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.