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.
“To the chief musician, a psalm of David, When Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in unto Bath-sheba'.” Be gracious unto me, O God, according to thy kindness: according to the greatness of thy 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 of my transgressions I have full knowledge; and my sin is before me continually.
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, thee only, have I sinned, and what is evil in thy eyes have I done: —in order that thou mightest be righteous when thou speakest, be justified when thou judgest.
5 See, I was born in iniquity; as soon as my mother conceived me, I was in sin.
Behold, in iniquity was I brought forth; 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, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: therefore do thou cause me to know wisdom in the recesses [of the heart].
7 Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Cleanse me from sin 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.
Cause me to hear gladness and joy; that the bones which thou hast crushed may rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities.
Hide thy face from my sins, and all my iniquities do thou blot out.
10 Create in me a clean heart, God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Create unto me a clean heart, O God; and a firm spirit renew thou 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 thy presence; and thy holy spirit do not take from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain me with a willing spirit.
Restore unto me the gladness of thy salvation; and with a liberal spirit do thou support me.—
13 Then will I teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will be converted to you.
I will teach transgressors thy ways, and sinners shall return unto 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-guiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation; [that] my tongue may sing aloud of thy righteousness.
15 Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will express your praise.
O Lord, open thou 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 thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: in burnt-offering hast thou no delight.
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, wilt thou not despise.
18 Do good in your good pleasure to Zion; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
Do good in thy favor unto Zion; build thou 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 wilt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt-offering and entire offering: then shall bullocks be offered upon thy altar.
