Psalms 51

1 For the Chief Musician. A psalm of David: when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bath-sheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness; according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

For the end, a Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, when he had gone to Bersabee. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy great mercy; and according to the multitude of thy compassions blot out my transgression.

2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

For I am conscious of mine iniquity; and my sin is continually before me.

4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in thy sight: that thou mayest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

Against thee only have I sinned, and done evil before thee: that thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

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

6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

For, behold, thou lovest truth: thou hast manifested to me the secret and hidden things of thy wisdom.

7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

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

8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

Thou shalt cause me to hear gladness and joy: the afflicted bones shall rejoice.

9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

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

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

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit in my inward parts.

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

Cast me not away from thy presence; and remove not thy holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation: and uphold me with a free spirit.

Restore to me the joy of thy salvation: establish me with thy directing Spirit.

13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

[Then] will I teach transgressors thy ways; and ungodly men shall turn to thee.

14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation; [and] my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation: [and] my tongue shall joyfully declare thy righteousness.

15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.

O Lord, thou shalt open my lips; and my mouth shall declare thy praise.

16 For thou delightest not in sacrifice; else would I give it: thou hast no pleasure in burnt offering.

For if thou desiredst sacrifice, I would have given [it]: thou wilt not take pleasure in whole-burnt-offerings.

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

Sacrifice to God is a broken spirit: a broken and humbled heart God will not despise.

18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.

Do good, O Lord, to Sion in thy good pleasure; and let the walls of Jerusalem be built.

19 Then shalt thou delight in the sacrifices of righteousness, in burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

Then shalt thou be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, offering, and whole-burnt-sacrifices: then shall they offer calves upon thine altar.