Psalms 51
1 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.
“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 clean of my guilt, make me pure of my sin.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin!
3 For well I know my transgressions, my sin is ever before me.
For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is ever before me.
4 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.
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 See! In guilt was I brought to the birth, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Behold! I was born in iniquity, And in sin did my mother conceive me.
6 It’s the innermost truth you desire, give me therefore true wisdom of heart.
Behold! thou desirest truth in the heart; So teach me wisdom in my inmost soul!
7 Purge me clean with hyssop, wash me whiter than snow.
Purge me with hyssop, until I be clean; Wash me, until I be whiter than snow!
8 Fill me with joy and gladness, let the bones you have broken 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 my guilt altogether.
Hide thy face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities!
10 Create me a clean heart, O God, put a new steadfast spirit within me.
Create within me a clean heart, O God! Renew within me a steadfast spirit!
11 Cast me not forth from your presence, withdraw not your holy spirit.
Cast me not away from thy presence, And take not thy holy spirit from me!
12 Give me back the joy of your help, with a willing spirit sustain me.
Restore to me the joy of thy protection, And strengthen me with a willing spirit!
13 I will teach your ways to transgressors, and sinners shall turn to you.
Then will I teach thy ways to transgressors, And sinners shall be converted to thee.
14 Save me from blood, O God, and my tongue shall ring out your faithfulness.
Deliver me from the guilt of blood, O God, the God of my salvation! That my tongue may sing aloud of thy goodness!
15 Open my lips, O Lord, and my mouth shall declare your praise.
O Lord! open thou my lips, That my mouth may show forth thy praise!
16 For in sacrifice you have no pleasure, in gifts of burnt-offering no delight.
For thou desirest not sacrifice, else would I give it; Thou delightest not in burnt-offerings.
17 The sacrifice pleasing to God is a spirit that is broken; a heart that is crushed, O God, you will not despise.
The sacrifice which God loveth is a broken spirit; A broken and contrite heart, O God! thou wilt not despise!
18 Do good in your pleasure to Zion, build the walls of Jerusalem.
Do good to Zion according to thy mercy; Build up the walls of Jerusalem!
19 Then will you welcome the due forms of sacrifice, then on your altars shall bullocks be offered.
Then shalt thou be pleased with sacrifices of righteousness, With burnt-offerings and complete offerings; Then shall bullocks be offered upon thine altar.
