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;
“To the chief musician, a psalm of David, When Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in unto Bath-sheba'.” Be gracious unto me, O God, according to thy kindness: according to the greatness of thy mercies blot out my transgressions.
2 Thoroughly wash me from mine iniquity, And, from my sin, make me pure;
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For, my transgressions, do, I, acknowledge, And, my sin, is before me continually:
For of my transgressions I have full knowledge; and my sin is before me continually.
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, thee only, have I sinned, and what is evil in thy eyes have I done: —in order that thou mightest be righteous when thou speakest, be justified when thou judgest.
5 Lo! in iniquity, was I brought forth, And, in sin, did my mother conceive me.
Behold, in iniquity was I brought forth; and in sin 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.
Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: therefore do thou cause me to know wisdom in the recesses [of the heart].
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?
Cleanse me from sin with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Wilt thou cause me to hear joy and gladness? The bones thou hast crushed would exult.
Cause me to hear gladness and joy; that the bones which thou hast crushed may rejoice.
9 Hide thy face from my sins, —And, all mine iniquities, blot out;
Hide thy face from my sins, and all my iniquities do thou blot out.
10 A pure heart, create for me, O God, And, a steadfast spirit, renew within me.
Create unto me a clean heart, O God; and a firm spirit renew thou within me.
11 Do not cast me away from thy presence, And, thy Holy Spirit, do not take from me:
Cast me not away from thy presence; and thy holy spirit do not take from me.
12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, And, with a willing spirit, wilt thou uphold me: —
Restore unto me the gladness of thy salvation; and with a liberal spirit do thou support me.—
13 I would teach transgressors thy ways, And, sinners, unto thee, should return.
I will teach transgressors thy ways, and sinners shall return unto thee.
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, thou God of my salvation; [that] my tongue may sing aloud of thy righteousness.
15 O My Lord! my lips, wilt thou open, And, my mouth, shall declare thy praise.
O Lord, open thou 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 thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: in burnt-offering hast thou no delight.
17 The sacrifices of God, are a spirit that is broken, —A heart—broken and crushed, O God, thou wilt not despise.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, wilt thou not despise.
18 Do good, in thy good-pleasure, unto Zion, Wilt thou build the walls of Jerusalem!
Do good in thy favor unto Zion; build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then, shalt thou desire the sacrifices of righteousness, Ascending-sacrifice and whole burnt-offering, Then, shall ascend upon thine altar, young bulls.
Then wilt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt-offering and entire offering: then shall bullocks be offered upon thy altar.
