Psalm 51
1 HAVE MERCY upon me, O God, according to Your steadfast love; according to the multitude of Your tender mercy and loving-kindness blot out my transgressions.2 Wash me thoroughly [and repeatedly] from my iniquity and guilt and cleanse me and make me wholly pure from my sin!3 For I am conscious of my transgressions and I acknowledge them; my sin is ever before me.4 Against You, You only, have I sinned and done that which is evil in Your sight, so that You are justified in Your sentence and faultless in Your judgment. 5 Behold, I was brought forth in [a state of] iniquity; my mother was sinful who conceived me [and I too am sinful]. 6 Behold, You desire truth in the inner being; make me therefore to know wisdom in my inmost heart.7 Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean [ceremonially]; wash me, and I shall [in reality] be whiter than snow.8 Make me to hear joy and gladness and be satisfied; let the bones which You have broken rejoice.9 Hide Your face from my sins and blot out all my guilt and iniquities.10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right, persevering, and steadfast spirit within me.11 Cast me not away from Your presence and take not Your Holy Spirit from me.12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit.13 Then will I teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners shall be converted and return to You.14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness and death, O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness (Your rightness and Your justice).15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall show forth Your praise.16 For You delight not in sacrifice, or else would I give it; You find no pleasure in burnt offering. 17 My sacrifice [the sacrifice acceptable] to God is a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart [broken down with sorrow for sin and humbly and thoroughly penitent], such, O God, You will not despise.18 Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.19 Then will You delight in the sacrifices of righteousness, justice, and right, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering; then bullocks will be offered upon Your altar.
Psalm 51
For the music director; a psalm of David, written when Nathan the prophet confronted him after David’s affair with Bathsheba.
1 Have mercy on me, O God, because of your loyal love!
Because of your great compassion, wipe away my rebellious acts!
2 Wash away my wrongdoing!
Cleanse me of my sin!
3 For I am aware of my rebellious acts;
I am forever conscious of my sin.
4 Against you – you above all – I have sinned;
I have done what is evil in your sight.
So you are just when you confront me;
you are right when you condemn me.
5 Look, I was guilty of sin from birth,
a sinner the moment my mother conceived me.
6 Look, you desire integrity in the inner man;
you want me to possess wisdom.
7 Sprinkle me with water and I will be pure;
wash me and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Grant me the ultimate joy of being forgiven!
May the bones you crushed rejoice!
9 Hide your face from my sins!
Wipe away all my guilt!
10 Create for me a pure heart, O God!
Renew a resolute spirit within me!
11 Do not reject me!
Do not take your Holy Spirit away from me!
12 Let me again experience the joy of your deliverance!
Sustain me by giving me the desire to obey!
13 Then I will teach rebels your merciful ways,
and sinners will turn to you.
14 Rescue me from the guilt of murder, O God, the God who delivers me!
Then my tongue will shout for joy because of your deliverance.
15 O Lord, give me the words!
Then my mouth will praise you.
16 Certainly you do not want a sacrifice, or else I would offer it;
you do not desire a burnt sacrifice.
17 The sacrifices God desires are a humble spirit –
O God, a humble and repentant heart you will not reject.
18 Because you favor Zion, do what is good for her!
Fortify the walls of Jerusalem!
19 Then you will accept the proper sacrifices, burnt sacrifices and whole offerings;
then bulls will be sacrificed on your altar.