Psalms 51

1 [For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.] Have mercy on me, God, according to your loving kindness. According to the multitude of your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.

To the Overseer. — A Psalm of David, in the coming in unto him of Nathan the prophet, when he hath gone in unto Bath-Sheba. Favour me, O God, according to Thy kindness, According to the abundance of Thy mercies, Blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity. Cleanse me from my sin.

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

3 For I know my transgressions. My sin is constantly before me.

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

4 Against you, and you only, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in your sight; that you may be proved right when you speak, and justified when you judge.

Against Thee, Thee only, I have sinned, And done the evil thing in Thine eyes, So that Thou art righteous in Thy words, Thou art pure in Thy judging.

5 Look, I was brought forth in iniquity. In sin my mother conceived me.

Lo, in iniquity I have been brought forth, And in sin doth my mother conceive me.

6 Look, you desire truth in the inward parts. You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

Lo, truth Thou hast desired in the inward parts, And in the hidden part Wisdom Thou causest me to know.

7 Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

Thou cleansest me with hyssop and I am clean, Washest me, and than snow I am whiter.

8 Let me hear joy and gladness, That the bones which you have broken may rejoice.

Thou causest me to hear joy and gladness, Thou makest joyful bones Thou hast bruised.

9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all of my iniquities.

Hide Thy face from my sin. And all mine iniquities blot out.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.

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

11 Do not throw me from your presence, and do not take your holy Spirit from me.

Cast me not forth from Thy presence, And Thy Holy Spirit take not from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation. Uphold me with a willing spirit.

Restore to me the joy of Thy salvation, And a willing spirit doth sustain me.

13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways. Sinners shall be converted to you.

I teach transgressors Thy ways, And sinners unto Thee do return.

14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation. My tongue shall sing aloud of your righteousness.

Deliver me from blood, O God, God of my salvation, My tongue singeth of Thy righteousness.

15 Lord, open my lips. My mouth shall declare your praise.

O Lord, my lips thou dost open, And my mouth declareth Thy praise.

16 For you do not delight in sacrifice, or else I would give it. You have no pleasure in burnt offering.

For Thou desirest not sacrifice, or I give [it], Burnt-offering Thou acceptest not.

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

The sacrifices of God [are] a broken spirit, A heart broken and bruised, O God, Thou dost not despise.

18 Do well in your good pleasure to Zion. Build the walls of Jerusalem.

Do good in Thy good pleasure with Zion, Thou dost build the walls of Jerusalem.

19 Then you will delight in the sacrifices of righteousness, in burnt offerings and in whole burnt offerings. Then they will offer bulls on your altar.

Then Thou desirest sacrifices of righteousness, Burnt-offering, and whole burnt-offering, Then they offer bullocks on thine altar!