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!

“For the leader of the music. A psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after his intercourse with Bathsheba.” Be gracious unto me, O God! according to thy loving kindness; According to the greatness of thy mercy, 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 I acknowledge my transgressions, 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 thee, thee only, have I sinned, And in thy sight have I done evil; So that thou art just in thy sentence, And righteous in thy 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.

Behold! I was born in iniquity, 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 heart; So teach me wisdom in my inmost soul!

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).

Purge me with hyssop, until I be clean; Wash me, until I 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].

Make me to hear joy and gladness, So that the bones which thou hast broken 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 blot out all my iniquities!

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

Create within me a clean heart, O God! Renew within me a steadfast spirit!

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 take not thy 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 thy protection, And strengthen me with a willing 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.

Then will I teach thy ways to transgressors, And sinners shall be converted to 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 the guilt of blood, O God, the God of my salvation! That my tongue may sing aloud of thy goodness!

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

O Lord! open thou my lips, That my mouth may show forth 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; Thou delightest not in burnt-offerings.

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 sacrifice which God loveth is a broken spirit; A broken and contrite heart, O God! thou wilt 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 to Zion according to thy mercy; Build up 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 shalt thou be pleased with sacrifices of righteousness, With burnt-offerings and complete offerings; Then shall bullocks be offered upon thine altar.