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!

Have gracious pity on me, God, according to your chesed ·loving-kindness·. According to the multitude of your tender rachamim ·merciful loves·, blot out my rebellious breaches of relationships.

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

Wash me thoroughly from my depravity (moral evil). Cleanse me from my habitual sin ·missing the mark·.

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

For I know my rebellious breaches of relationships. My habitual sin ·missing the mark· is constantly 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, and you only, have I sinned ·deviated (from the standard goal)·, and done that which is evil in your sight; that you may be proved right when you speak, and justified when you judge.

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

Behold, I was born in depravity (moral evil). In crime deserving peanlty, sin ·missing the goal· my mother conceived me.

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

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

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

Cleanse sin ·err (the standard goal)· from me with hyssop, and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

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

Let me sh'ma ·hear obey· joy and gladness, That the bones which you have broken may rejoice.

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

Hide your face from my crimes deserving peanlty, sins ·missing the goal·, and blot out all of my depravities (moral evils).

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

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

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

Don’t throw me from your presence, and don’t take your Ruach Kodesh [Holy Spirit, Breath] 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 yesha' ·salvation·. Uphold me with a willing spirit.

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

Then I will teach the rebellious who break away from authority thus breaking relationship, teach them your ways. People who sin ·intentionally miss the mark goal· shall be converted 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 the guilt of bloodshed, O God, the God of my salvation. My tongue shall sing aloud of your righteousness.

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

Adonai, open my lips. My mouth shall declare your tehilah ·praise song·.

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

For you don’t delight in sacrifice, or else I would give it. You have 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 contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

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

Do well in your good pleasure to Zion [Mountain ridge, Marking]. Build the walls of Jerusalem [City of peace].

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