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!

For the Leader. A Psalm of David; When Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bath-sheba. Be gracious unto me, O God, according to Thy mercy; according to the multitude of Thy compassions blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin!

Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is ever before me.

For I know my transgressions; and my sin is ever 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 that which is evil in Thy sight; that Thou mayest be justified when Thou speakest, and be in the right when Thou judgest.

5 Behold! I was born in iniquity, And in sin did my mother conceive me.

Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, 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 desirest truth in the inward parts; make me, therefore, to know wisdom in mine inmost heart.

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 joy and gladness; that the bones which Thou hast crushed 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 me a clean heart, O God; and renew a stedfast 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 Thy holy spirit 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 uphold me.

13 Then will I teach thy ways to transgressors, And sinners shall be converted to thee.

Then will I 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 bloodguiltiness, O God, Thou God of my salvation; so shall my tongue sing aloud of Thy righteousness.

15 O Lord! open thou my lips, That my mouth may show forth thy praise!

O Lord, open Thou 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 delightest not in 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 favour unto Zion; build Thou 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 wilt Thou delight in the sacrifices of righteousness, in burnt-offering and whole offering; then will they offer bullocks upon Thine altar.