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.
Unto the end, a psalm of David, When Nathan the prophet came to him after he had sinned with Bethsabee. Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy great mercy. And according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my iniquity.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.
Wash me yet more from 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 iniquity, 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.
To thee only have I sinned, and have done evil before thee: that thou mayst be justified in thy words and mayst overcome when thou art judged.
5 See, I was born in iniquity; as soon as my mother conceived me, I was in sin.
For behold I was conceived in iniquities; and in sins did my mother conceive me.
6 See, you desire trustworthiness in my inner self; and you teach me wisdom in the secret place within.
For behold thou hast loved truth: the uncertain and hidden things of thy wisdom thou hast made manifest to me.
7 Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be cleansed: thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow.
8 Make me hear joy and gladness so that the bones that you have broken may rejoice.
To my hearing thou shalt give joy and gladness: and the bones that have been humbled shall rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities.
Turn away thy 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 a clean heart in me, O God: and renew a right spirit within my bowels.
11 Do not drive me away from your presence, and do not take your holy Spirit from me.
Cast me not away from thy face; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain me with a willing spirit.
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and strengthen me with a perfect spirit.
13 Then will I teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will be converted to you.
I will teach the unjust thy ways: and the wicked shall be converted to thee.
14 Forgive me for shedding blood, God of my salvation, and I will shout for the joy of your righteousness.
Deliver me from blood, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall extol thy justice.
15 Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will express your praise.
O Lord, thou wilt open my lips: and my mouth shall declare thy praise.
16 For you do not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you have no pleasure in burnt offerings.
For if thou hadst desired sacrifice, I would indeed have given it: with burnt offerings thou wilt not be delighted.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. You, God, will not despise a broken and a contrite heart.
A sacrifice to God is an afflicted spirit: a contrite and humbled heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
18 Do good in your good pleasure to Zion; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
Deal favourably, O Lord, in thy good will with Sion; that the walls of Jerusalem may be built up.
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 shalt thou accept the sacrifice of justice, oblations and whole burnt offerings: then shall they lay calves upon thy altar.
