Psalms 51

1 To the Overseer. — A Psalm of David, in the coming in unto him of Nathan the prophet, when he hath gone in unto Bath-Sheba. Favour me, O God, according to Thy kindness, According to the abundance of Thy mercies, Blot out my transgressions.

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 Thoroughly wash me from mine iniquity, And from my sin cleanse me,

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

3 For my transgressions I do know, And my sin [is] before me continually.

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

4 Against Thee, Thee only, I have sinned, And done the evil thing in Thine eyes, So that Thou art righteous in Thy words, Thou art pure in Thy judging.

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 Lo, in iniquity I have been brought forth, And in sin doth my mother conceive me.

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

6 Lo, truth Thou hast desired in the inward parts, And in the hidden part Wisdom Thou causest me to know.

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

7 Thou cleansest me with hyssop and I am clean, Washest me, and than snow I am whiter.

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

8 Thou causest me to hear joy and gladness, Thou makest joyful bones Thou hast bruised.

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

9 Hide Thy face from my sin. And all mine iniquities blot out.

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

10 A clean heart prepare for me, O God, And a right spirit renew within me.

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

11 Cast me not forth from Thy presence, And Thy Holy Spirit take not from me.

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

12 Restore to me the joy of Thy salvation, And a willing spirit doth sustain me.

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

13 I teach transgressors Thy ways, And sinners unto Thee do return.

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

14 Deliver me from blood, O God, God of my salvation, My tongue singeth of Thy righteousness.

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

15 O Lord, my lips thou dost open, And my mouth declareth Thy praise.

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

16 For Thou desirest not sacrifice, or I give [it], Burnt-offering Thou acceptest not.

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

17 The sacrifices of God [are] a broken spirit, A heart broken and bruised, O God, Thou dost not despise.

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

18 Do good in Thy good pleasure with Zion, Thou dost build 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 Thou desirest sacrifices of righteousness, Burnt-offering, and whole burnt-offering, Then they offer bullocks on thine altar!

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