< 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 Chief Musician. A Melody of David. When Nathan the Prophet had come to him, after he had gone in unto Bath-sheba. Be favorable unto me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness, And, in the multitude of thy compassions, 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, make me pure;
3 For I know my transgressions. My sin is constantly before me.
For, my transgressions, do, I, acknowledge, 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—against thee alone, have I sinned, And, wickedness—in thine eyes, have I done, —That thou mayest, Be justified when thou speakest, —Be clear when thou judgest.
5 Look, I was brought forth in iniquity. In sin my mother conceived me.
Lo! in iniquity, was I brought forth, And, in sin, did my mother conceive me.
6 Look, you desire truth in the inward parts. You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.
Lo! faithfulness, hast thou desired in the inward parts, Yea, in the hidden part, wilt thou cause me to know, wisdom.
7 Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Wilt thou cleanse me from sin with hyssop, That I may be pure? Wilt thou wash me, That I may be whiter, than snow?
8 Let me hear joy and gladness, That the bones which you have broken may rejoice.
Wilt thou cause me to hear joy and gladness? The bones thou hast crushed would exult.
9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all of my iniquities.
Hide thy face from my sins, —And, all mine iniquities, blot out;
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.
A pure heart, create for me, O God, And, a steadfast spirit, renew within me.
11 Do not throw me from your presence, and do not take your holy Ruach from me.
Do not cast me away from thy presence, And, thy Holy Spirit, do not take from me:
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation. Uphold me with a willing spirit.
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, And, with a willing spirit, wilt thou uphold me: —
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways. Sinners shall be converted to you.
I would teach transgressors thy ways, And, sinners, unto thee, should return.
14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation. My tongue shall sing aloud of your righteousness.
Rescue me from shed-blood, O God, the God of my salvation, My tongue should shout thy righteousness;
15 Lord, open my lips. My mouth shall declare your praise.
O My Lord! my lips, wilt thou open, And, my mouth, shall declare 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 wilt not desire sacrifice—that I should give it, Ascending-offering, will not please:
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 spirit that is broken, —A heart—broken and crushed, O God, thou wilt not despise.
18 Do well in your good pleasure to Zion. Build the walls of Jerusalem.
Do good, in thy good-pleasure, unto Zion, Wilt thou 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, shalt thou desire the sacrifices of righteousness, Ascending-sacrifice and whole burnt-offering, Then, shall ascend upon thine altar, young bulls.