< 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!
2 Make me pure from the wrong things that I have done; make me clean from [the guilt of] my sin.
3 [I say that] because I know the ways that I have disobeyed you; I cannot forget them.
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].
5 I have been a sinner since the day that I was born; [truly], I have been like that since my mother conceived me.
6 What you desire is that I desire what is true in order that you [can] teach me how to act wisely.
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).
8 Allow/Cause me to be joyful [DOU] again; you have (crushed my spirit/completely discouraged me) [MTY]; [but now] let me rejoice [again].
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.
10 O God, cause my inner being to be pure. Put new [thoughts] within me and make me faithful again.
11 Do not send me away from you [because of my sin], 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].
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.
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.
15 O Yahweh, help me to speak [in order that] I may praise you.
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].
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.
18 [O God], be good to [the people who live in] Jerusalem [MTY], [and help them] to rebuild the city walls.
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.
