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 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.

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

Thoroughly wash me from my 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] 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 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.

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

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

6 Behold! thou desirest truth in the heart; So teach me wisdom in my inmost soul!

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

7 Purge me with hyssop, until I be clean; Wash me, until I be whiter than snow!

You cleanse me with hyssop and I am clean, Wash me, and I am whiter than snow.

8 Make me to hear joy and gladness, So that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice!

You cause me to hear joy and gladness, You make bones You have bruised joyful.

9 Hide thy face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities!

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

10 Create within me a clean heart, O God! Renew within me a steadfast spirit!

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

11 Cast me not away from thy presence, And take not thy holy spirit from me!

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

12 Restore to me the joy of thy protection, And strengthen me with a willing spirit!

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And a willing spirit sustains me.

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

I teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners return to You.

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, O God, God of my salvation, My tongue sings of Your righteousness.

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

O Lord, you open my lips, And my mouth declares Your praise.

16 For thou desirest not sacrifice, else would I give it; Thou delightest not in burnt-offerings.

For You do not desire sacrifice, or I give [it], You do not accept 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 heart broken and bruised, O God, You do not despise.

18 Do good to Zion according to thy mercy; Build up the walls of Jerusalem!

Do good in Your good pleasure with Zion, You 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 You desire sacrifices of righteousness, Burnt-offering, and whole burnt-offering, Then they offer bullocks on your altar!