Psalms 51

1 For the music director. A psalm of David. When Nathan the prophet came to him after he had committed adultery with Bathsheba. God, please be gracious to me, because of your trustworthy love, because of your infinite kindness please wipe away my sins.

Unto the end. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he went to Bathsheba. Be merciful to me, O God, according to your great mercy. And, according to the plentitude of your compassion, wipe out my iniquity.

2 Wash away all my guilt; cleanse me from my sin.

Wash me once again from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

3 I admit my rebellion; my sin always stares me in my face.

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

4 I have sinned against you, you alone. I have done evil in your sight. So you are right in what you say, and fair when you judge.

Against you only have I sinned, and I have done evil before your eyes. And so, you are justified in your words, and you will prevail when you give judgment.

5 It's true that I was born guilty—sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

For behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sinfulness did my mother conceive me.

6 But you want truth on the inside; you teach me wisdom deep within.

For behold, you have loved truth. The obscure and hidden things of your wisdom, you have manifested to me.

7 Purify me with hyssop so I can be clean; wash me so I can be whiter than snow.

You will sprinkle me with hyssop, and I will be cleansed. You will wash me, and I will be made whiter than snow.

8 Please let me hear joy and happiness again; let the bones you have crushed be glad once more.

In my hearing, you will grant gladness and rejoicing. And the bones that have been humbled will exult.

9 Turn your face away from looking at my sins; please wipe away my guilt.

Turn your face away from my sins, and erase all my iniquities.

10 Create a pure mind in me, God, and make me trustworthy again.

Create a clean heart in me, O God. And renew an upright spirit within my inmost being.

11 Don't expel me from your presence; don't take away your Holy Spirit from me.

Do not cast me away from your face; and do not take your Holy Spirit from me.

12 Give me back the happiness of your salvation; help me to have a willing nature.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and confirm me with an unsurpassed spirit.

13 Then I will teach your ways to rebellious people, and these sinners will come back to you.

I will teach the unjust your ways, and the impious will be converted to you.

14 God, please forgive me for the blood I have shed, God of my salvation, and I will sing for joy of your goodness.

Free me from blood, O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue will extol your justice.

15 Open my lips so I can speak your praise!

O Lord, you will open my lips, and my mouth will announce your praise.

16 For sacrifices don't make you happy, or I would bring one; burnt offerings aren't what pleases you.

For if you had desired sacrifice, I would certainly have given it, but with holocausts, you will not be delighted.

17 The “sacrifices” that God wants are on the inside—the brokenness of repentance. God won't reject a broken and sorrowful heart.

A crushed spirit is a sacrifice to God. A contrite and humbled heart, O God, you will not spurn.

18 Be kind to Zion, help the city; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

Act kindly, Lord, in your good will toward Zion, so that the walls of Jerusalem may be built up.

19 Then you will be pleased with sacrifices given in the right spirit, for all kinds of burnt offerings, and bulls sacrificed on your altar once more.

Then you will accept the sacrifice of justice, oblations, and holocausts. Then they will lay calves upon your altar.