Psalms 51

1 O God, be merciful to me, because you love me faithfully; because you are very merciful, erase [the record of] the ways that I disobeyed you!

Unto the end. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he went to Bathsheba. Be merciful to me, O God, according to your great mercy. And, according to the plentitude of your compassion, wipe out my iniquity.

2 Make me pure from the wrong things that I have done; make me clean from [the guilt of] my sin.

Wash me once again from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

3 [I say that] because I know the ways that I have disobeyed you; I cannot forget them.

For I know my iniquity, and my sin is ever before me.

4 You, you only, are the one that I have [really] sinned against, and you have seen the evil things that I have done. When you say that I am guilty, you are right/correct, and when you judge me, you justly say [that I deserve to be punished].

Against you only have I sinned, and I have done evil before your eyes. And so, you are justified in your words, and you will prevail when you give judgment.

5 I have been a sinner since the day that I was born; [truly], I have been like that since my mother conceived me.

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

6 What you desire is that I desire what is true in order that you [can] teach me how to act wisely.

For behold, you have loved truth. The obscure and hidden things of your wisdom, you have manifested to me.

7 Purify me from the guilt of my sins, and [after that happens], I will be clean [in my inner being]; cleanse me, and [then in my inner being] I will be (whiter than snow/very clean).

You will sprinkle me with hyssop, and I will be cleansed. You will wash me, and I will be made whiter than snow.

8 Allow/Cause me to be joyful [DOU] again; you have (crushed my spirit/completely discouraged me) [MTY]; [but now] let me rejoice [again].

In my hearing, you will grant gladness and rejoicing. And the bones that have been humbled will exult.

9 Do not continue to look at the sins [IDM] that I have committed; erase the record of the evil things that I have done.

Turn your face away from my sins, and erase all my iniquities.

10 O God, cause my inner being to be pure. Put new [thoughts] within me and make me faithful again.

Create a clean heart in me, O God. And renew an upright spirit within my inmost being.

11 Do not send me away from you [because of my sin], and do not take your Holy Spirit from me.

Do not cast me away from your face; and do not take your Holy Spirit from me.

12 Cause/Allow me to be happy again because of [knowing] that you have freed me [from the guilt of my sin], and make me willing [to obey you].

Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and confirm me with an unsurpassed spirit.

13 If you do that, I will [be able to] teach [other] sinners what you want them to do, and they will repent and begin to obey you.

I will teach the unjust your ways, and the impious will be converted to you.

14 O God, you are the one who saves me; forgive me for being guilty of causing someone [who was not my enemy] to die. [When you do that], I will sing joyfully about your being very good and righteous.

Free me from blood, O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue will extol your justice.

15 O Yahweh, help me to speak [in order that] I may praise you.

O Lord, you will open my lips, and my mouth will announce your praise.

16 You are not pleased [only] with the sacrifices [that people bring to you]. If that were [enough to] please you, I would bring you sacrifices. You are not pleased with burnt offerings [alone].

For if you had desired sacrifice, I would certainly have given it, but with holocausts, you will not be delighted.

17 The sacrifice that you [really] want is for people to be truly humble and sorry [for having sinned]; O God, you will not refuse that kind of sacrifice.

A crushed spirit is a sacrifice to God. A contrite and humbled heart, O God, you will not spurn.

18 [O God], be good to [the people who live in] Jerusalem [MTY], [and help them] to rebuild the city walls.

Act kindly, Lord, in your good will toward Zion, so that the walls of Jerusalem may be built up.

19 When that happens, [they will bring you] the proper sacrifices, animals that they will completely burn, young bulls that they will burn on your altar, and you will be pleased.

Then you will accept the sacrifice of justice, oblations, and holocausts. Then they will lay calves upon your altar.