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 leader. A psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet come to him after he had been with Bathsheba. In your kindness, O God, be gracious to me, in your own great pity blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.
Wash me clean of my guilt, make me pure of my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.
For well I know my transgressions, 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, only you, have I sinned, and done that which is wrong in your sight: you therefore are just when you speak, and clear when you utter judgment.
5 See, I was born in iniquity; as soon as my mother conceived me, I was in sin.
See! In guilt was I brought to the birth, 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.
It’s the innermost truth you desire, give me therefore true wisdom of heart.
7 Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Purge me clean with hyssop, wash me whiter than snow.
8 Make me hear joy and gladness so that the bones that you have broken may rejoice.
Fill me with joy and gladness, let the bones you have broken rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities.
Hide your face from my sins, and blot out my guilt altogether.
10 Create in me a clean heart, God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Create me a clean heart, O God, put a new steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not drive me away from your presence, and do not take your holy Spirit from me.
Cast me not forth from your presence, withdraw not your holy spirit.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain me with a willing spirit.
Give me back the joy of your help, with a willing spirit sustain me.
13 Then will I teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will be converted to you.
I will teach your ways to transgressors, and sinners shall turn to you.
14 Forgive me for shedding blood, God of my salvation, and I will shout for the joy of your righteousness.
Save me from blood, O God, and my tongue shall ring out your faithfulness.
15 Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will express your praise.
Open my lips, O Lord, and my mouth shall declare your praise.
16 For you do not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you have no pleasure in burnt offerings.
For in sacrifice you have no pleasure, in gifts of burnt-offering no delight.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. You, God, will not despise a broken and a contrite heart.
The sacrifice pleasing to God is a spirit that is broken; a heart that is crushed, O God, you will not despise.
18 Do good in your good pleasure to Zion; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
Do good in your 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 will you welcome the due forms of sacrifice, then on your altars shall bullocks be offered.
