Psalms 51

1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to your loving kindness: according unto the multitude of your 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 thoroughly 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 ever before me.

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

4 Against you, you only, have I sinned, and done this evil in your sight: that you might be justified when you speak, and be clear 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 Behold, I was formed in iniquity; 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, you desire truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part you shall 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 joy and gladness; that the bones which you have broken may rejoice.

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

9 Hide your 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 right spirit within me.

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

11 Cast me not away from your presence; and take not your holy spirit 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 your salvation; and uphold me with your free spirit.

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

13 Then will I teach transgressors your ways; and sinners shall be converted unto you.

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

14 Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O God, you God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of your righteousness.

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

15 O Lord, open you my lips; and my mouth shall show forth your praise.

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

16 For you desire not sacrifice; else would I give it: you delight not 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, you will 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 your good pleasure unto Zion: build you the walls of Jerusalem.

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

19 Then shall you be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon your 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.