Psalms 51

1 To the chief music-maker. A Psalm. Of David. When Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bath-sheba. Have pity on me, O God, in your mercy; out of a full heart, take away my sin.

[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.

2 Let all my wrongdoing be washed away, and make me clean from evil.

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity. Cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I am conscious of my error; my sin is ever before me.

For I know my transgressions. My sin is constantly before me.

4 Against you, you only, have I done wrong, working that which is evil in your eyes; so that your words may be seen to be right, and you may be clear when you are judging.

Against you, and you only, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in your sight; that you may be proved right when you speak, and justified when you judge.

5 Truly, I was formed in evil, and in sin did my mother give me birth.

Look, I was brought forth in iniquity. In sin my mother conceived me.

6 Your desire is for what is true in the inner parts: in the secrets of my soul you will give me knowledge of wisdom.

Look, you desire truth in the inward parts. You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

7 Make me free from sin with hyssop: let me be washed whiter than snow.

Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

8 Make me full of joy and rapture; so that the bones which have been broken may be glad.

Let me hear joy and gladness, That the bones which you have broken may rejoice.

9 Let your face be turned from my wrongdoing, and take away all my sins.

Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all of my iniquities.

10 Make a clean heart in me, O God; give me a right spirit again.

Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.

11 Do not put me away from before you, or take your holy spirit from me.

Do not throw me from your presence, and do not take your holy Spirit from me.

12 Give me back the joy of your salvation; let a free spirit be my support.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation. Uphold me with a willing spirit.

13 Then will I make your ways clear to wrongdoers; and sinners will be turned to you.

Then I will teach transgressors your ways. Sinners shall be converted to you.

14 Be my saviour from violent death, O God, the God of my salvation; and my tongue will give praise to your righteousness.

Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation. My tongue shall sing aloud of your righteousness.

15 O Lord, let my lips be open, so that my mouth may make clear your praise.

Lord, open my lips. My mouth shall declare your praise.

16 You have no desire for an offering or I would give it; you have no delight in burned offerings.

For you do not delight in sacrifice, or else I would give it. You have no pleasure in burnt offering.

17 The offerings of God are a broken spirit; a broken and sorrowing heart, O God, you will not put from you.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

18 Do good to Zion in your good pleasure, building up the walls of Jerusalem.

Do well in your good pleasure to Zion. Build the walls of Jerusalem.

19 Then you will have delight in the offerings of righteousness, in burned offerings and offerings of beasts; then they will make offerings of oxen on your altar.

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.