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

For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always 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, 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 For, behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sins did my mother conceive me.

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

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

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

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.

Make me hear joy and gladness so that the bones that 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 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, God, and renew a right spirit within me.

11 Cast me not away from your presence; and remove 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 to me the joy of your salvation: establish me with your directing 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 ungodly men shall turn to you.

Then will I teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will 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.

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

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

Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will express 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 I would give it; you have no pleasure in burnt offerings.

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. You, God, will not despise a broken and a contrite heart.

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

Do good in your good pleasure to Zion; rebuild 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 will you delight in the sacrifices of righteousness, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then our people will offer bulls on your altar.