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 of David; when Nathan the prophet came to him after he had slept with Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, God, because of your covenant faithfulness; for the sake of the multitude of your merciful actions, blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me fully from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is continually before me.
For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always 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, you only, I have sinned and done what is evil in your sight; you are right when you speak; you are correct when you judge.
5 Behold, in iniquity was I brought forth, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
See, I was born in iniquity; as soon as my mother conceived me, I was in sin.
6 Behold, thou wilt have truth in the inward parts; and in the hidden [part] thou wilt make me to know wisdom.
See, you desire trustworthiness in my inner self; and you teach me wisdom in the secret place within.
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.
Make me hear joy and gladness so that the bones that 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 my iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Create in me a clean heart, God, and 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 drive me away 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, and sustain me with a willing spirit.
13 I will teach transgressors thy ways, and sinners shall return unto thee.
Then will I teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will 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.
Forgive me for shedding blood, God of my salvation, and I will shout for the joy of your righteousness.
15 Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare thy praise.
Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will express 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 I would give it; you have no pleasure in burnt offerings.
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. You, God, will not despise a broken and a contrite heart.
18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion; build the walls of Jerusalem.
Do good in your good pleasure to Zion; rebuild 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 will you delight in the sacrifices of righteousness, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then our people will offer bulls on your altar.
