Psalms 51

1 For the Chief Musician. A psalm of David: when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bath-sheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness; according to the multitude of thy tender mercies 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 throughly from mine 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 done that which is evil in thy sight: that thou mayest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

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 shapen 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 inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

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, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall 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; 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 mine iniquities.

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

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

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 unto me the joy of thy salvation: and uphold me with a free spirit.

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

13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

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

14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation; [and] my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

Deliver me from blood, O God, God of my salvation, My tongue sings of Your righteousness.

15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.

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

16 For thou delightest not in sacrifice; else would I give it: thou hast no pleasure in burnt offering.

For You do not desire sacrifice, or I give [it], You do not accept burnt-offering.

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a 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 in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.

Do good in Your good pleasure with Zion, You build the walls of Jerusalem.

19 Then shalt thou delight in the sacrifices of righteousness, in burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

Then You desire sacrifices of righteousness, Burnt-offering, and whole burnt-offering, Then they offer bullocks on your altar!