Psalms 51

1 To the chief music-maker. A Psalm. Of David. When Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bath-sheba. Have pity on me, O God, in your mercy; out of a full heart, take away my sin.

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bath-sheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving-kindness: according to the multitude of thy tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.

2 Let all my wrongdoing be washed away, and make me clean from evil.

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

3 For I am conscious of my error; my sin is ever before me.

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

4 Against you, you only, have I done wrong, working that which is evil in your eyes; so that your words may be seen to be right, and you may be clear when you are judging.

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

5 Truly, I was formed in evil, and in sin did my mother give me birth.

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

6 Your desire is for what is true in the inner parts: in the secrets of my soul you will give me knowledge of wisdom.

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

7 Make me free from sin with hyssop: let me be washed whiter than snow.

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

8 Make me full of joy and rapture; so that the bones which have been broken may be glad.

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

9 Let your face be turned from my wrongdoing, and take away all my sins.

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

10 Make a clean heart in me, O God; give me a right spirit again.

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

11 Do not put me away from before you, or take your holy spirit from me.

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

12 Give me back the joy of your salvation; let a free spirit be my support.

Restore to me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me [with thy] free spirit.

13 Then will I make your ways clear to wrongdoers; and sinners will be turned to you.

[Then] will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted to thee.

14 Be my saviour from violent death, O God, the God of my salvation; and my tongue will give praise to your righteousness.

Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: [and] my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

15 O Lord, let my lips be open, so that my mouth may make clear your praise.

O LORD, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall show forth thy praise.

16 You have no desire for an offering or I would give it; you have no delight in burned offerings.

For thou desirest not sacrifice: else would I give [it]: thou delightest not in burnt-offering.

17 The offerings of God are a broken spirit; a broken and sorrowing heart, O God, you will not put from you.

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

18 Do good to Zion in your good pleasure, building up the walls of Jerusalem.

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

19 Then you will have delight in the offerings of righteousness, in burned offerings and offerings of beasts; then they will make offerings of oxen on your altar.

Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt-offering and whole burnt-offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thy altar.