Psalm 51
For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David, when Nathan the prophet came
to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.
1 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 my iniquity.
Cleanse me from my sin.
3 For
I know my
transgressions.
My sin
is constantly before me.
4 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
born in iniquity.
My mother conceived me
in sin.
6 Behold,
you desire truth in
the inward parts.
You teach me wisdom
in the inmost place.
7 Purify me
with hyssop, and I
will be clean.
Wash me, and I
will be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear
joy and gladness,
that the bones which
you have broken may rejoice.
9 Hide your face
from my sins,
and blot out all
of my iniquities.
10 Create in
me a clean heart,
O God.
Renew a right spirit within me.
11 Don’t throw
me from your
presence,
and don’t take your Holy Spirit
from me.
12 Restore
to me the joy
of your salvation.
Uphold me with
a willing spirit.
13 Then
I will teach transgressors
your ways.
Sinners will be converted
to you.
14 Deliver
me from the guilt
of bloodshed, O God,
the God of my
salvation.
My tongue will sing aloud
of your righteousness.
15 Lord, open
my lips.
My mouth will declare
your praise.
16 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.
O God, you will
not despise a broken
and contrite heart.
18 Do well in
your good pleasure
to Zion.
Build the walls of Jerusalem.
19 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.