Psalms 51

1 For the chief musician. A psalm of David; when Nathan the prophet came to him after he had slept with Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, God, because of your covenant faithfulness; for the sake of the multitude of your merciful actions, blot out my transgressions.

For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, God, according to your loving kindness. According to the multitude of your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity. Cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.

For I know my transgressions. My sin is constantly before me.

4 Against you, you only, I have sinned and done what is evil in your sight; you are right when you speak; you are correct when you judge.

Against you, and you only, I have sinned, and done that which is evil in your sight, so you may be proved right when you speak, and justified when you judge.

5 See, I was born in iniquity; as soon as my mother conceived me, I was in sin.

Behold, I was born in iniquity. My mother conceived me in sin.

6 See, you desire trustworthiness in my inner self; and you teach me wisdom in the secret place within.

Behold, you desire truth in the inward parts. You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

7 Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

8 Make me hear joy and gladness so that the bones that you have broken may rejoice.

Let me hear joy and gladness, that the bones which you have broken may rejoice.

9 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities.

Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all of my iniquities.

10 Create in me a clean heart, God, and renew a right spirit within me.

Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.

11 Do not drive me away from your presence, and do not take your holy Spirit from me.

Do not throw me from your presence, and do not take your Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain me with a willing spirit.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation. Uphold me with a willing spirit.

13 Then will I teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will be converted to you.

Then I will teach transgressors your ways. Sinners will be converted to you.

14 Forgive me for shedding blood, God of my salvation, and I will shout for the joy of your righteousness.

Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, the God of my salvation. My tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.

15 Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will express your praise.

Lord, open my lips. My mouth will declare your praise.

16 For you do not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you have no pleasure in burnt offerings.

For you do not delight in sacrifice, or else I would give it. You have no pleasure in burnt offering.

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. You, God, will not despise a broken and a contrite heart.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. O God, you will not despise a broken and contrite heart.

18 Do good in your good pleasure to Zion; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

Do well in your good pleasure to Zion. Build the walls of Jerusalem.

19 Then will you delight in the sacrifices of righteousness, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then our people will offer bulls on your altar.

Then you will delight in the sacrifices of righteousness, in burnt offerings and in whole burnt offerings. Then they will offer bulls on your altar.