Psalms 51

1 Unto the end, a psalm of David, When Nathan the prophet came to him after he had sinned with Bethsabee. Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy great mercy. And according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my iniquity.

[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 Wash me yet more from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

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

3 For I know my iniquity, and my sin is always before me.

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

4 To thee only have I sinned, and have done evil before thee: that thou mayst be justified in thy words and mayst overcome when thou art judged.

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 For behold I was conceived in iniquities; and in sins did my mother conceive me.

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

6 For behold thou hast loved truth: the uncertain and hidden things of thy wisdom thou hast made manifest to me.

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

7 Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be cleansed: thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow.

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

8 To my hearing thou shalt give joy and gladness: and the bones that have been humbled shall rejoice.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and strengthen me with a perfect spirit.

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

13 I will teach the unjust thy ways: and the wicked shall be converted to thee.

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

14 Deliver me from blood, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall extol thy justice.

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

15 O Lord, thou wilt open my lips: and my mouth shall declare thy praise.

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

16 For if thou hadst desired sacrifice, I would indeed have given it: with burnt offerings thou wilt not be delighted.

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

17 A sacrifice to God is an afflicted spirit: a contrite and humbled heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

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

18 Deal favourably, O Lord, in thy good will with Sion; that the walls of Jerusalem may be built up.

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

19 Then shalt thou accept the sacrifice of justice, oblations and whole burnt offerings: then shall they lay calves upon thy 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.