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;

Unto the end, a psalm of David, When Nathan the prophet came to him after he had sinned with Bethsabee. Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy great mercy. And according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my iniquity.

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

Wash me yet more from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

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

For I know my iniquity, and my sin is always 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.

To thee only have I sinned, and have done evil before thee: that thou mayst be justified in thy words and mayst overcome when thou art 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 thou hast loved truth: the uncertain and hidden things of thy wisdom thou hast made manifest to me.

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?

Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be cleansed: thou shalt 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.

To my hearing thou shalt give joy and gladness: and the bones that have been humbled shall rejoice.

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

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

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

Create a clean heart in me, O God: and renew a right spirit within my bowels.

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

Cast me not away from thy face; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

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

Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and strengthen me with a perfect spirit.

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

I will teach the unjust thy ways: and the wicked shall be converted to thee.

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

Deliver me from blood, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall extol thy justice.

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

O Lord, thou wilt open my lips: and my mouth shall declare thy praise.

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

For if thou hadst desired sacrifice, I would indeed have given it: with burnt offerings thou wilt not be delighted.

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

A sacrifice to God is an afflicted spirit: a contrite and humbled heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

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

Deal favourably, O Lord, in thy good will with Sion; that the walls of Jerusalem may be built up.

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

Then shalt thou accept the sacrifice of justice, oblations and whole burnt offerings: then shall they lay calves upon thy altar.