Psalms 51

1 For the music director. A psalm of David. When Nathan the prophet came to him after he had committed adultery with Bathsheba. God, please be gracious to me, because of your trustworthy love, because of your infinite kindness please wipe away my sins.

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 away all my guilt; cleanse me from my sin.

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

3 I admit my rebellion; my sin always stares me in my face.

For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.

4 I have sinned against you, you alone. I have done evil in your sight. So you are right in what you say, and fair when you judge.

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 It's true that I was born guilty—sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

See, I was born in iniquity; as soon as my mother conceived me, I was in sin.

6 But you want truth on the inside; you teach me wisdom deep within.

See, you desire trustworthiness in my inner self; and you teach me wisdom in the secret place within.

7 Purify me with hyssop so I can be clean; wash me so I can be whiter than snow.

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

8 Please let me hear joy and happiness again; let the bones you have crushed be glad once more.

Make me hear joy and gladness so that the bones that you have broken may rejoice.

9 Turn your face away from looking at my sins; please wipe away my guilt.

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

10 Create a pure mind in me, God, and make me trustworthy again.

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

11 Don't expel me from your presence; don't take away your Holy Spirit from me.

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

12 Give me back the happiness of your salvation; help me to have a willing nature.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain me with a willing spirit.

13 Then I will teach your ways to rebellious people, and these sinners will come back to you.

Then will I teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will be converted to you.

14 God, please forgive me for the blood I have shed, God of my salvation, and I will sing for joy of your goodness.

Forgive me for shedding blood, God of my salvation, and I will shout for the joy of your righteousness.

15 Open my lips so I can speak your praise!

Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will express your praise.

16 For sacrifices don't make you happy, or I would bring one; burnt offerings aren't what pleases you.

For you do not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you have no pleasure in burnt offerings.

17 The “sacrifices” that God wants are on the inside—the brokenness of repentance. God won't reject a broken and sorrowful heart.

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

18 Be kind to Zion, help the city; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

Do good in your good pleasure to Zion; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

19 Then you will be pleased with sacrifices given in the right spirit, for all kinds of burnt offerings, and bulls sacrificed on your altar once more.

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.