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;

Have gracious pity on me, God, according to your chesed ·loving-kindness·. According to the multitude of your tender rachamim ·merciful loves·, blot out my rebellious breaches of relationships.

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

Wash me thoroughly from my depravity (moral evil). Cleanse me from my habitual sin ·missing the mark·.

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

For I know my rebellious breaches of relationships. My habitual sin ·missing the mark· is constantly 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, and you only, have I sinned ·deviated (from the standard goal)·, and done that which is evil in your sight; that you may be proved right when you speak, and justified when you judge.

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

Behold, I was born in depravity (moral evil). In crime deserving penalty, sin ·missing the goal· my mother conceived me.

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

Behold, you desire truth in the inward parts. You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

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 sin ·err (the standard goal)· from me with hyssop, and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

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

Let me sh'ma ·hear obey· joy and gladness, That the bones which you have broken may rejoice.

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

Hide your face from my crimes deserving penalty, sins ·missing the goal·, and blot out all of my depravities (moral evils).

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

Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.

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

Don’t throw me from your presence, and don’t take your Ruach Kodesh [Holy Spirit, Breath] 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 yesha' ·salvation·. Uphold me with a willing spirit.

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

Then I will teach the rebellious who break away from authority thus breaking relationship, teach them your ways. People who sin ·intentionally miss the mark goal· shall be converted to you.

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

Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, the God of my salvation. My tongue shall sing aloud of your righteousness.

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

Adonai, open my lips. My mouth shall declare your tehilah ·praise song·.

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

For you don’t delight in sacrifice, or else I would give it. You have no pleasure in burnt offering.

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 contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

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

Do well in your good pleasure to Zion [Mountain ridge, Marking]. Build the walls of Jerusalem [City of peace].

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

Then you will delight in the sacrifices of righteousness, in burnt offerings and in whole burnt offerings. Then they will offer bulls on your altar.