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!

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

Wash me thoroughly 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 of my transgressions I have full knowledge; and my sin is before me continually.

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].

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

Behold, in iniquity was I brought forth; and in sin 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.

Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: therefore do thou cause me to know wisdom in the recesses [of the heart].

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).

Cleanse me from sin with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be 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].

Cause me to hear gladness and joy; that the bones which thou hast crushed may rejoice.

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.

Hide thy face from my sins, and all my iniquities do thou blot out.

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

Create unto me a clean heart, O God; and a firm spirit renew thou within me.

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

Cast me not away from thy presence; and thy holy spirit do not take 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 unto me the gladness of thy salvation; and with a liberal spirit do thou support me.—

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 transgressors thy ways, and sinners shall return unto thee.

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.

Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation; [that] my tongue may sing aloud of thy righteousness.

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

O Lord, open thou my lips, and my mouth shall declare thy 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 thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: in burnt-offering hast thou no delight.

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.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, wilt thou not despise.

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

Do good in thy favor unto Zion; build thou the walls of Jerusalem.

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 wilt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt-offering and entire offering: then shall bullocks be offered upon thy altar.