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 Overseer. — A Psalm of David, in the coming in unto him of Nathan the prophet, when he hath gone in unto Bath-Sheba. Favour me, O God, according to Thy kindness, According to the abundance 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.

Thoroughly wash me from mine iniquity, And from my sin cleanse me,

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

For my transgressions I do know, 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].

Against Thee, Thee only, I have sinned, And done the evil thing in Thine eyes, So that Thou art righteous in Thy words, Thou art pure in Thy judging.

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

Lo, in iniquity I have been brought forth, And in sin doth 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.

Lo, truth Thou hast desired in the inward parts, And in the hidden part Wisdom Thou causest me to know.

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).

Thou cleansest me with hyssop and I am clean, Washest me, and than snow I am whiter.

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

Thou causest me to hear joy and gladness, Thou makest joyful bones Thou hast bruised.

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 sin. And all mine iniquities blot out.

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

A clean heart prepare for me, O God, And a right spirit renew 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 forth from Thy presence, And Thy Holy Spirit take not 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 salvation, And a willing spirit doth sustain 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 teach transgressors Thy ways, And sinners unto Thee do return.

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, O God, God of my salvation, My tongue singeth of Thy righteousness.

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

O Lord, my lips thou dost open, And my mouth declareth 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, or I give [it], Burnt-offering Thou acceptest not.

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 heart broken and bruised, O God, Thou dost 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 good pleasure with Zion, Thou dost build 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 Thou desirest sacrifices of righteousness, Burnt-offering, and whole burnt-offering, Then they offer bullocks on thine altar!