Psalm 51

1 Have mercy upon me, O God,

A Prayer of RepentanceTo the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David When Nathan the Prophet Went to Him, After He Had Gone in to Bathsheba. According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.3 For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me.4 Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge.5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.6 Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.8 Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice.9 Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities.10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.11 Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.13  Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You.14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, The God of my salvation, And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.15 O Lord, open my lips, And my mouth shall show forth Your praise.16 For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering.17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart These, O God, You will not despise.18 Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion; Build the walls of Jerusalem.19 Then You shall be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, With burnt offering and whole burnt offering; Then they shall offer bulls on Your altar.

PSALMS 51

A Prayer for Forgiveness

1  t You are kind, God!
Please have pity on me.
You are always merciful!
Please wipe away my sins.

2 Wash me clean from all
of my sin and guilt.

3 I know about my sins,
and I cannot forget
the burden of my guilt.

4  t You are really the one
I have sinned against;
I have disobeyed you
and have done wrong.
So it is right and fair for you
to correct and punish me.

5 I have sinned and done wrong
since the day I was born.

6 But you want complete honesty,
so teach me true wisdom.

7 Wash me with hyssopt
until I am clean
and whiter than snow.

8 Let me be happy and joyful!
You crushed my bones,
now let them celebrate.

9 Turn your eyes from my sin
and cover my guilt.

10 Create pure thoughts in me
and make me faithful again.

11 Don't chase me away from you
or take your Holy Spirit
away from me.

12 Make me as happy as you did
when you saved me;
make me want to obey!

13 I will teach sinners your Law,
and they will return to you.

14 Keep me from any deadly sin.
Only you can save me!
Then I will shout and sing
about your power to save.

15 Help me to speak,
and I will praise you, Lord.

16 Offerings and sacrifices
are not what you want.

17 The way to please you
is to be truly sorry
deep in our hearts.
This is the kind of sacrifice
you won't refuse.

18 Please be willing, Lord,
to help the city of Zion
and to rebuild its walls.

19 Then you will be pleased
with the proper sacrifices,
and we will offer bulls
on your altar once again.