Psalms 51

1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bath-sheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude 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 throughly 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 thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done [this] evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, [and] 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, I was shapen 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, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden [part] thou shalt 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] 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 right 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 thy 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 thy salvation; and uphold me [with thy] free spirit.

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

13 [Then] will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

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

14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: [and] 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 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth 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 delightest 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, 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 thou the walls of Jerusalem.

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

19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer 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.