Psalms 51
1 For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, God, according to your loving kindness. According to the multitude of your tender mercies, 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. Cleanse me from my sin.
Wash me clean of my guilt, make me pure of my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions. My sin is constantly before me.
For well I know my transgressions, my sin is ever before me.
4 Against you, and you only, I have sinned, and done that which is evil in your sight, so you may be proved right when you speak, and justified 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 Behold, I was born in iniquity. My mother conceived me in sin.
See! In guilt was I brought to the birth, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6 Behold, you desire truth in the inward parts. You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.
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 Let me hear joy and gladness, that the bones which 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 of my iniquities.
Hide your face from my sins, and blot out my guilt altogether.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.
Create me a clean heart, O God, put a new steadfast spirit within me.
11 Don’t throw me from your presence, and don’t 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. Uphold me with a willing spirit.
Give me back the joy of your help, with a willing spirit sustain me.
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways. Sinners will be converted to you.
I will teach your ways to transgressors, and sinners shall turn to you.
14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, the God of my salvation. My tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.
Save me from blood, O God, and my tongue shall ring out your faithfulness.
15 Lord, open my lips. My mouth will declare your praise.
Open my lips, O Lord, and my mouth shall declare your praise.
16 For you don’t delight in sacrifice, or else I would give it. You have no pleasure in burnt offering.
For in sacrifice you have no pleasure, in gifts of burnt-offering no delight.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. O God, you will not despise a broken and 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 well in your good pleasure to Zion. Build the walls of Jerusalem.
Do good in your pleasure to Zion, build the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then you will delight in the sacrifices of righteousness, in burnt offerings and in whole burnt offerings. Then they will offer bulls on your altar.
Then will you welcome the due forms of sacrifice, then on your altars shall bullocks be offered.
