Psalms 51

1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bath-sheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving-kindness: according to the multitude of thy tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.

To the Overseer. — A Psalm of David, in the coming in unto him of Nathan the prophet, when he hath gone in unto Bath-Sheba. Favour me, O God, according to Thy kindness, According to the abundance of Thy mercies, Blot out my transgressions.

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

Thoroughly wash me from mine iniquity, And from my sin cleanse me,

3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin [is] ever before me.

For my transgressions I do know, And my sin [is] before me continually.

4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done [this] evil in thy sight: that thou mayest be justified when thou speakest, [and] be clear when thou judgest.

Against Thee, Thee only, I have sinned, And done the evil thing in Thine eyes, So that Thou art righteous in Thy words, Thou art pure in Thy judging.

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

Lo, in iniquity I have been brought forth, And in sin doth my mother conceive me.

6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden [part] thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

Lo, truth Thou hast desired in the inward parts, And in the hidden part Wisdom Thou causest me to know.

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

Thou cleansest me with hyssop and I am clean, Washest me, and than snow I am whiter.

8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; [that] the bones [which] thou hast broken may rejoice.

Thou causest me to hear joy and gladness, Thou makest joyful bones Thou hast bruised.

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

Hide Thy face from my sin. And all mine iniquities blot out.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

A clean heart prepare for me, O God, And a right spirit renew within me.

11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

Cast me not forth from Thy presence, And Thy Holy Spirit take not from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me [with thy] free spirit.

Restore to me the joy of Thy salvation, And a willing spirit doth sustain me.

13 [Then] will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted to thee.

I teach transgressors Thy ways, And sinners unto Thee do return.

14 Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: [and] my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

Deliver me from blood, O God, God of my salvation, My tongue singeth of Thy righteousness.

15 O LORD, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall show forth thy praise.

O Lord, my lips thou dost open, And my mouth declareth Thy praise.

16 For thou desirest not sacrifice: else would I give [it]: thou delightest not in burnt-offering.

For Thou desirest not sacrifice, or I give [it], Burnt-offering Thou acceptest not.

17 The sacrifices of God [are] a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

The sacrifices of God [are] a broken spirit, A heart broken and bruised, O God, Thou dost not despise.

18 Do good in thy good pleasure to Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.

Do good in Thy good pleasure with Zion, Thou dost build the walls of Jerusalem.

19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt-offering and whole burnt-offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thy altar.

Then Thou desirest sacrifices of righteousness, Burnt-offering, and whole burnt-offering, Then they offer bullocks on thine altar!