Psalms - Chapter 51

1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

1 <To the chief music-maker. A Psalm. Of David. When Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bath-sheba.> Have pity on me, O God, in your mercy; out of a full heart, take away my sin.

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

2 Let all my wrongdoing be washed away, and make me clean from evil.

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

3 For I am conscious of my error; my sin is ever 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.

4 Against you, you only, have I done wrong, working that which is evil in your eyes; so that your words may be seen to be right, and you may be clear when you are judging.

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

5 Truly, I was formed in evil, and in sin did my mother give me birth.

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

6 Your desire is for what is true in the inner parts: in the secrets of my soul you will give me knowledge of wisdom.

7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

7 Make me free from sin with hyssop: let me be washed whiter than snow.

8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

8 Make me full of joy and rapture; so that the bones which have been broken may be glad.

9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

9 Let your face be turned from my wrongdoing, and take away all my sins.

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

10 Make a clean heart in me, O God; give me a right spirit again.

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

11 Do not put me away from before you, or take your holy spirit from me.

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

12 Give me back the joy of your salvation; let a free spirit be my support.

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

13 Then will I make your ways clear to wrongdoers; and sinners will be turned to you.

14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

14 Be my saviour from violent death, O God, the God of my salvation; and my tongue will give praise to your righteousness.

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

15 O Lord, let my lips be open, so that my mouth may make clear your praise.

16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.

16 You have no desire for an offering or I would give it; you have no delight in burned offerings.

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

17 The offerings of God are a broken spirit; a broken and sorrowing heart, O God, you will not put from you.

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

18 Do good to Zion in your good pleasure, building up 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.

19 Then you will have delight in the offerings of righteousness, in burned offerings and offerings of beasts; then they will make offerings of oxen on your altar.