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 choirmaster. A Psalm of David. When Nathan the prophet came to him after his adultery with Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your loving devotion; according to Your great compassion, blot out my transgressions.

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

Wash me clean of my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

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

For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always 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, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You may be proved right when You speak and blameless when You judge.

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

Surely I was brought forth in iniquity; I was sinful when my mother conceived me.

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

Surely You desire truth in the inmost being; 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; let the bones You have crushed rejoice.

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

Hide Your face from my sins and blot out all 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, and renew a right spirit within me.

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

Cast me not away from Your presence; take not 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, and sustain 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, and sinners will return 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 bloodguilt, O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing of Your righteousness.

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

O Lord, open my lips, and 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 I would bring it; You take no pleasure in burnt offerings.

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; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.

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

In Your good pleasure, cause Zion to prosper; build up 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 righteous sacrifices, in whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on Your altar.