Psalms 51

1 For 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 to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

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 throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

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

3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

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

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 clear when thou judgest.

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

5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Behold, I was born in iniquity. My mother conceived me in sin.

6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

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

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.

Let me hear joy and gladness, that the bones which 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 of my iniquities.

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

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

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

Don’t throw me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation: and uphold me with a free spirit.

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

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

Then I will teach transgressors your ways. 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.

Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, the God of my salvation. My tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.

15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.

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

16 For thou delightest not in sacrifice; else would I give it: thou hast no pleasure in burnt offering.

For you don’t delight in sacrifice, or else I would give it. You have no pleasure in burnt offering.

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. O God, you will not despise a broken and contrite heart.

18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.

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

19 Then shalt thou delight in the sacrifices of righteousness, in burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine 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.