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.
“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!
2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin!
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is ever 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 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.
5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Behold! I was born in iniquity, And in sin did my mother conceive me.
6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
Behold! thou desirest truth in the heart; So teach me wisdom in my inmost soul!
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Purge me with hyssop, until I be clean; Wash me, until I be whiter than snow!
8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
Make me to hear joy and gladness, So that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice!
9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
Hide thy face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities!
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Create within me a clean heart, O God! Renew within me a steadfast spirit!
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 unto me the joy of thy salvation: and uphold me with a free spirit.
Restore to me the joy of thy protection, And strengthen me with a willing spirit!
13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
Then will I teach thy ways to transgressors, And sinners shall be converted to thee.
14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation; [and] my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
Deliver me from the guilt of blood, O God, the God of my salvation! That my tongue may sing aloud of thy goodness!
15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
O Lord! open thou my lips, That my mouth may show forth thy praise!
16 For thou delightest not in sacrifice; else would I give it: thou hast no pleasure in burnt offering.
For thou desirest not sacrifice, else would I give it; Thou delightest not in burnt-offerings.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
The sacrifice which God loveth is a broken spirit; A broken and contrite heart, O God! thou wilt not despise!
18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
Do good to Zion according to thy mercy; Build up 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 shalt thou be pleased with sacrifices of righteousness, With burnt-offerings and complete offerings; Then shall bullocks be offered upon thine altar.
