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 of the music. A psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after his intercourse with Bathsheba.” Be gracious unto me, O God! according to thy loving kindness; According to the greatness of thy mercy, blot out my transgressions!
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity. Cleanse me from my sin.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin!
3 For I know my transgressions. My sin is constantly before me.
For I acknowledge my transgressions, And 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 thee, thee only, have I sinned, And in thy sight have I done evil; So that thou art just in thy sentence, And righteous in thy judgment.
5 Behold, I was born in iniquity. My mother conceived me in sin.
Behold! I was born in iniquity, 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.
Behold! thou desirest truth in the heart; So teach me wisdom in my inmost soul!
7 Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Purge me with hyssop, until I be clean; Wash me, until I be whiter than snow!
8 Let me hear joy and gladness, that the bones which you have broken may rejoice.
Make me to hear joy and gladness, So that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice!
9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all of my iniquities.
Hide thy face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities!
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.
Create within me a clean heart, O God! Renew within me a steadfast spirit!
11 Don’t throw me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.
Cast me not away from thy presence, And take not thy holy spirit from me!
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation. Uphold me with a willing spirit.
Restore to me the joy of thy protection, And strengthen me with a willing spirit!
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways. Sinners will be converted to you.
Then will I teach thy ways to transgressors, And sinners shall be converted to thee.
14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, the God of my salvation. My tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.
Deliver me from the guilt of blood, O God, the God of my salvation! That my tongue may sing aloud of thy goodness!
15 Lord, open my lips. My mouth will declare your praise.
O Lord! open thou my lips, That my mouth may show forth thy praise!
16 For you don’t delight in sacrifice, or else I would give it. You have no pleasure in burnt offering.
For thou desirest not sacrifice, else would I give it; Thou delightest not in burnt-offerings.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. O God, you will not despise a broken and contrite heart.
The sacrifice which God loveth is a broken spirit; A broken and contrite heart, O God! thou wilt not despise!
18 Do well in your good pleasure to Zion. Build the walls of Jerusalem.
Do good to Zion according to thy mercy; Build up 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 shalt thou be pleased with sacrifices of righteousness, With burnt-offerings and complete offerings; Then shall bullocks be offered upon thine altar.
