Psalms 51

1 To the chief Musician. A Psalm of David; when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bath-sheba. Be gracious unto me, O God, according to thy loving-kindness; according to the abundance of thy tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.

[For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.] Have mercy on me, God, according to your loving kindness. According to the multitude of your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.

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

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity. Cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is continually before me.

For I know my transgressions. My sin is constantly before me.

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

Against you, and you only, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in your sight; that you may be proved right when you speak, and justified when you judge.

5 Behold, in iniquity was I brought forth, and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Look, I was brought forth in iniquity. In sin my mother conceived me.

6 Behold, thou wilt have truth in the inward parts; and in the hidden [part] thou wilt make me to know wisdom.

Look, you desire truth in the inward parts. You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

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

Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

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

Let me hear joy and gladness, That the bones which you have broken may rejoice.

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

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

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

Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.

11 Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not the spirit of thy holiness from me.

Do not throw me from your presence, and do not take your holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and let a willing spirit sustain me.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation. Uphold me with a willing spirit.

13 I will teach transgressors thy ways, and sinners shall return unto thee.

Then I will teach transgressors your ways. Sinners shall be converted to you.

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

Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation. My tongue shall sing aloud of your righteousness.

15 Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare thy praise.

Lord, open my lips. My mouth shall declare your praise.

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

For you do not delight in sacrifice, or else I would give it. You have no pleasure in burnt offering.

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

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

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

Do well in your good pleasure to Zion. Build the walls of Jerusalem.

19 Then shalt thou have sacrifices of righteousness, burnt-offering, and whole burnt-offering; then shall they offer up bullocks upon thine altar.

Then you will delight in the sacrifices of righteousness, in burnt offerings and in whole burnt offerings. Then they will offer bulls on your altar.