Psalms 51

1 For the Leader. A Psalm of David; When Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bath-sheba. Be gracious unto me, O God, according to Thy mercy; according to the multitude of Thy compassions blot out my transgressions.

To the Chief Musician. A Melody of David. When Nathan the Prophet had come to him, after he had gone in unto Bath-sheba. Be favorable unto me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness, And, in the multitude of thy compassions, blot out my transgressions;

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

Thoroughly wash me from mine iniquity, And, from my sin, make me pure;

3 For I know my transgressions; and my sin is ever before me.

For, my transgressions, do, I, acknowledge, And, my sin, is before me continually:

4 Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in Thy sight; that Thou mayest be justified when Thou speakest, and be in the right when Thou judgest.

Against thee—against thee alone, have I sinned, And, wickedness—in thine eyes, have I done, —That thou mayest, Be justified when thou speakest, —Be clear when thou judgest.

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

Lo! in iniquity, was I brought forth, And, in sin, did my mother conceive me.

6 Behold, Thou desirest truth in the inward parts; make me, therefore, to know wisdom in mine inmost heart.

Lo! faithfulness, hast thou desired in the inward parts, Yea, in the hidden part, wilt thou cause me to know, wisdom.

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

Wilt thou cleanse me from sin with hyssop, That I may be pure? Wilt thou wash me, That I may be whiter, than snow?

8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which Thou hast crushed may rejoice.

Wilt thou cause me to hear joy and gladness? The bones thou hast crushed would exult.

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

Hide thy face from my sins, —And, all mine iniquities, blot out;

10 Create me a clean heart, O God; and renew a stedfast spirit within me.

A pure heart, create for me, O God, And, a steadfast spirit, renew within me.

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

Do not cast me away from thy presence, And, thy Holy Spirit, do not take from me:

12 Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation; and let a willing spirit uphold me.

Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, And, with a willing spirit, wilt thou uphold me: —

13 Then will I teach transgressors Thy ways; and sinners shall return unto Thee.

I would teach transgressors thy ways, And, sinners, unto thee, should return.

14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, Thou God of my salvation; so shall my tongue sing aloud of Thy righteousness.

Rescue me from shed-blood, O God, the God of my salvation, My tongue should shout thy righteousness;

15 O Lord, open Thou my lips; and my mouth shall declare Thy praise.

O My Lord! my lips, wilt thou open, And, my mouth, shall declare thy praise.

16 For Thou delightest not in sacrifice, else would I give it; Thou hast no pleasure in burnt-offering.

For thou wilt not desire sacrifice—that I should give it, Ascending-offering, will not please:

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 spirit that is broken, —A heart—broken and crushed, O God, thou wilt not despise.

18 Do good in Thy favour unto Zion; build Thou the walls of Jerusalem.

Do good, in thy good-pleasure, unto Zion, Wilt thou build the walls of Jerusalem!

19 Then wilt Thou delight in the sacrifices of righteousness, in burnt-offering and whole offering; then will they offer bullocks upon Thine altar.

Then, shalt thou desire the sacrifices of righteousness, Ascending-sacrifice and whole burnt-offering, Then, shall ascend upon thine altar, young bulls.