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 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, And cleanse me from my sin!
Thoroughly wash me from mine iniquity, And, from my sin, make me pure;
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is ever before me.
For, my transgressions, do, I, acknowledge, And, my sin, is before me continually:
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—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 Behold! I was born in iniquity, And in sin did my mother conceive me.
Lo! 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!
Lo! faithfulness, hast thou desired in the inward parts, Yea, in the hidden part, wilt thou cause me to know, wisdom.
7 Purge me with hyssop, until I be clean; Wash me, until I 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 Make me to hear joy and gladness, So that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice!
Wilt thou cause me to hear joy and gladness? The bones thou hast crushed would exult.
9 Hide thy face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities!
Hide thy face from my sins, —And, all mine iniquities, blot out;
10 Create within me a clean heart, O God! Renew within me a steadfast spirit!
A pure heart, create for me, O God, And, a steadfast spirit, renew within me.
11 Cast me not away from thy presence, And take not thy holy spirit 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 thy protection, And strengthen me with a willing spirit!
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, And, with a willing spirit, wilt thou uphold me: —
13 Then will I teach thy ways to transgressors, And sinners shall be converted to thee.
I would teach transgressors thy ways, And, sinners, unto thee, should return.
14 Deliver me from the guilt of blood, O God, the God of my salvation! That my tongue may sing aloud of thy goodness!
Rescue me from shed-blood, O God, the God of my salvation, My tongue should shout thy righteousness;
15 O Lord! open thou my lips, That my mouth may show forth thy praise!
O My Lord! my lips, wilt thou open, 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 wilt not desire sacrifice—that I should give it, Ascending-offering, will not please:
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 spirit that is broken, —A heart—broken and crushed, 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, Wilt thou 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 desire the sacrifices of righteousness, Ascending-sacrifice and whole burnt-offering, Then, shall ascend upon thine altar, young bulls.
