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.

Have mercy on me, O 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, and cleanse me from my sin.

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

For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever 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 this evil in your sight: that you might be justified when you speak, and be clear when you judge.

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

Behold, I was shaped in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

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: and in the hidden part you shall make me to know wisdom.

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

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

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

Make me to 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 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; and 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 uphold me with your free spirit.

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

Then will I teach transgressors your ways; and sinners shall 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 bloodguiltiness, O God, you God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of your righteousness.

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

O Lord, open you my lips; and my mouth shall show forth your praise.

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

For you desire not sacrifice; else would I give it: you delight not 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: 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.

Do good in your good pleasure to Zion: build you 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 shall you be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks on your altar.