Psalms 51

1 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;

For the end, a Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, when he had gone to Bersabee. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to your great mercy; and according to the multitude of your compassions blot out my transgression.

2 Thoroughly wash me from mine iniquity, And, from my sin, make me pure;

Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For, my transgressions, do, I, acknowledge, And, my sin, is before me continually:

For I am conscious of mine iniquity; and my sin is continually before me.

4 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.

Against you only have I sinned, and done evil before you: that you might be justified in your sayings, and might overcome when you are judged.

5 Lo! in iniquity, was I brought forth, And, in sin, did my mother conceive me.

For, behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sins did my mother conceive me.

6 Lo! faithfulness, hast thou desired in the inward parts, Yea, in the hidden part, wilt thou cause me to know, wisdom.

For, behold, you love truth: you have manifested to me the secret and hidden things of your wisdom.

7 Wilt thou cleanse me from sin with hyssop, That I may be pure? Wilt thou wash me, That I may be whiter, than snow?

You shall sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be purified: you shall wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow.

8 Wilt thou cause me to hear joy and gladness? The bones thou hast crushed would exult.

You shall cause me to hear gladness and joy: the afflicted bones shall rejoice.

9 Hide thy face from my sins, —And, all mine iniquities, blot out;

Turn away your face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

10 A pure heart, create for me, O God, And, a steadfast spirit, renew within me.

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit in my inward parts.

11 Do not cast me away from thy presence, And, thy Holy Spirit, do not take from me:

Cast me not away from your presence; and remove not your holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, And, with a willing spirit, wilt thou uphold me: —

Restore to me the joy of your salvation: establish me with your directing Spirit.

13 I would teach transgressors thy ways, And, sinners, unto thee, should return.

[Then] will I teach transgressors your ways; and ungodly men shall turn to you.

14 Rescue me from shed-blood, O God, the God of my salvation, My tongue should shout thy righteousness;

Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation: [and] my tongue shall joyfully declare your righteousness.

15 O My Lord! my lips, wilt thou open, And, my mouth, shall declare thy praise.

O Lord, you shall open my lips; and my mouth shall declare your praise.

16 For thou wilt not desire sacrifice—that I should give it, Ascending-offering, will not please:

For if you desired sacrifice, I would have given [it]: you will not take pleasure in whole burnt offerings.

17 The sacrifices of God, are a spirit that is broken, —A heart—broken and crushed, O God, thou wilt not despise.

Sacrifice to God is a broken spirit: a broken and humbled heart God will not despise.

18 Do good, in thy good-pleasure, unto Zion, Wilt thou build the walls of Jerusalem!

Do good, O Lord, to Sion in your good pleasure; and let the walls of Jerusalem be built.

19 Then, shalt thou desire the sacrifices of righteousness, Ascending-sacrifice and whole burnt-offering, Then, shall ascend upon thine altar, young bulls.

Then shall you be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, offering, and whole burnt sacrifices: then shall they offer calves upon your altar.