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 chief musician. A psalm of David; when Nathan the prophet came to him after he had slept with Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, God, because of your covenant faithfulness; for the sake of the multitude of your merciful actions, 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 I know my transgressions, 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.
Against you, you only, I have sinned and done what is evil in your sight; you are right when you speak; you are correct when you judge.
5 Lo! in iniquity, was I brought forth, And, in sin, did my mother conceive me.
See, I was born in iniquity; as soon as my mother conceived me, I was in sin.
6 Lo! faithfulness, hast thou desired in the inward parts, Yea, in the hidden part, wilt thou cause me to know, wisdom.
See, you desire trustworthiness in my inner self; and you teach me wisdom in the secret place within.
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?
Purify 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.
Make me hear joy and gladness so that the bones that you have broken may rejoice.
9 Hide thy face from my sins, —And, all mine iniquities, blot out;
Hide your 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 in me a clean heart, God, and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me away from thy presence, And, thy Holy Spirit, do not take from me:
Do not drive me away from your presence, and do not take 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, and sustain me with a willing spirit.
13 I would teach transgressors thy ways, And, sinners, unto thee, should return.
Then will I teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will be converted to you.
14 Rescue me from shed-blood, O God, the God of my salvation, My tongue should shout thy righteousness;
Forgive me for shedding blood, God of my salvation, and I will shout for the joy of your righteousness.
15 O My Lord! my lips, wilt thou open, And, my mouth, shall declare thy praise.
Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will express your praise.
16 For thou wilt not desire sacrifice—that I should give it, Ascending-offering, will not please:
For you do not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you have no pleasure in burnt offerings.
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. You, God, will not despise a broken and a contrite heart.
18 Do good, in thy good-pleasure, unto Zion, Wilt thou build the walls of Jerusalem!
Do good in your good pleasure to Zion; rebuild 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 will you delight in the sacrifices of righteousness, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then our people will offer bulls on your altar.
