< Psalms 51 >

1 “For the leader of the music. A psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after his intercourse with Bathsheba.” Be gracious unto me, O God! according to thy loving kindness; According to the greatness of thy mercy, blot out my transgressions!
To the chief Musician. A Psalm of David; when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bath-sheba. Be gracious unto me, O God, according to thy loving-kindness; according to the abundance of thy tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin!
Wash me fully from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is ever before me.
For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is continually before me.
4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, And in thy sight have I done evil; So that thou art just in thy sentence, And righteous in thy judgment.
Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done what is evil in thy sight; that thou mayest be justified when thou speakest, be clear when thou judgest.
5 Behold! I was born in iniquity, And in sin did my mother conceive me.
Behold, in iniquity was I brought forth, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6 Behold! thou desirest truth in the heart; So teach me wisdom in my inmost soul!
Behold, thou wilt have truth in the inward parts; and in the hidden [part] thou wilt make me to know wisdom.
7 Purge me with hyssop, until I be clean; Wash me, until I be whiter than snow!
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Make me to hear joy and gladness, So that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice!
Make me to hear gladness and joy; [that] the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
9 Hide thy face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities!
Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
10 Create within me a clean heart, O God! Renew within me a steadfast spirit!
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from thy presence, And take not thy holy spirit from me!
Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not the spirit of thy holiness from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of thy protection, And strengthen me with a willing spirit!
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and let a willing spirit sustain me.
13 Then will I teach thy ways to transgressors, And sinners shall be converted to thee.
I will teach transgressors thy ways, and sinners shall return unto thee.
14 Deliver me from the guilt of blood, O God, the God of my salvation! That my tongue may sing aloud of thy goodness!
Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
15 O Lord! open thou my lips, That my mouth may show forth thy praise!
Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare thy praise.
16 For thou desirest not sacrifice, else would I give it; Thou delightest not in burnt-offerings.
For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou hast no pleasure in burnt-offering.
17 The sacrifice which God loveth is a broken spirit; A broken and contrite heart, O God! thou wilt not despise!
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
18 Do good to Zion according to thy mercy; Build up the walls of Jerusalem!
Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion; build the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then shalt thou be pleased with sacrifices of righteousness, With burnt-offerings and complete offerings; Then shall bullocks be offered upon thine altar.
Then shalt thou have sacrifices of righteousness, burnt-offering, and whole burnt-offering; then shall they offer up bullocks upon thine altar.

< Psalms 51 >