Psalms 51

1 For the end, a Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, when he had gone to Bersabee. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to your great mercy; and according to the multitude of your compassions blot out my transgression.

[For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.] Have mercy on me, God, according to your loving kindness. According to the multitude of your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.

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

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity. Cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I am conscious of mine iniquity; and my sin is continually before me.

For I know my transgressions. My sin is constantly before me.

4 Against you only have I sinned, and done evil before you: that you might be justified in your sayings, and might overcome when you are judged.

Against you, and you only, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in your sight; that you may be proved right when you speak, and justified when you judge.

5 For, behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sins did my mother conceive me.

Look, I was brought forth in iniquity. In sin my mother conceived me.

6 For, behold, you love truth: you have manifested to me the secret and hidden things of your wisdom.

Look, you desire truth in the inward parts. You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

7 You shall sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be purified: you shall wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow.

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

8 You shall cause me to hear gladness and joy: the afflicted bones shall rejoice.

Let me hear joy and gladness, That the bones which you have broken may rejoice.

9 Turn away your face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

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

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit in my inward parts.

Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.

11 Cast me not away from your presence; and remove not your holy Spirit from me.

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

12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation: establish me with your directing Spirit.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation. Uphold me with a willing spirit.

13 [Then] will I teach transgressors your ways; and ungodly men shall turn to you.

Then I will teach transgressors your ways. Sinners shall be converted to you.

14 Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation: [and] my tongue shall joyfully declare your righteousness.

Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation. My tongue shall sing aloud of your righteousness.

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

Lord, open my lips. My mouth shall declare your praise.

16 For if you desired sacrifice, I would have given [it]: you will not take pleasure in whole burnt offerings.

For you do not delight in sacrifice, or else I would give it. You have no pleasure in burnt offering.

17 Sacrifice to God is a broken spirit: a broken and humbled heart God will not despise.

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

18 Do good, O Lord, to Sion in your good pleasure; and let the walls of Jerusalem be built.

Do well in your good pleasure to Zion. Build the walls of Jerusalem.

19 Then shall you be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, offering, and whole burnt sacrifices: then shall they offer calves upon your altar.

Then you will delight in the sacrifices of righteousness, in burnt offerings and in whole burnt offerings. Then they will offer bulls on your altar.