12 If I were hungry I would not tell you,
    for the world is mine, and all that is in it.
13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls
    or drink the blood of goats?

14 ‘Sacrifice thank-offerings to God,
    fulfil your vows to the Most High,
15 and call on me in the day of trouble;
    I will deliver you, and you will honour me.’

16 But to the wicked person, God says:

‘What right have you to recite my laws
    or take my covenant on your lips?
17 You hate my instruction
    and cast my words behind you.
18 When you see a thief, you join with him;
    you throw in your lot with adulterers.
19 You use your mouth for evil
    and harness your tongue to deceit.
20 You sit and testify against your brother
    and slander your own mother’s son.
21 When you did these things and I kept silent,
    you thought I was exactly[a] like you.
But I now arraign you
    and set my accusations before you.

22 ‘Consider this, you who forget God,
    or I will tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue you:
23 those who sacrifice thank-offerings honour me,
    and to the blameless[b] I will show my salvation.’

Psalm 51[c]

For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.

Have mercy on me, O God,
    according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
    blot out my transgressions.
Wash away all my iniquity
    and cleanse me from my sin.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 50:21 Or thought the “I AM” was
  2. Psalm 50:23 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; the meaning of the Masoretic Text for this phrase is uncertain.
  3. Psalm 51:1 In Hebrew texts 51:1-19 is numbered 51:3-21.

12 If I were hungry I would not tell you,
    for the world(A) is mine, and all that is in it.(B)
13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls
    or drink the blood of goats?

14 “Sacrifice thank offerings(C) to God,
    fulfill your vows(D) to the Most High,(E)
15 and call(F) on me in the day of trouble;(G)
    I will deliver(H) you, and you will honor(I) me.”

16 But to the wicked person, God says:

“What right have you to recite my laws
    or take my covenant(J) on your lips?(K)
17 You hate(L) my instruction
    and cast my words behind(M) you.
18 When you see a thief, you join(N) with him;
    you throw in your lot with adulterers.(O)
19 You use your mouth for evil
    and harness your tongue to deceit.(P)
20 You sit and testify against your brother(Q)
    and slander your own mother’s son.
21 When you did these things and I kept silent,(R)
    you thought I was exactly[a] like you.
But I now arraign(S) you
    and set my accusations(T) before you.

22 “Consider this, you who forget God,(U)
    or I will tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue you:(V)
23 Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me,
    and to the blameless[b] I will show my salvation.(W)

Psalm 51[c]

For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.(X)

Have mercy(Y) on me, O God,
    according to your unfailing love;(Z)
according to your great compassion(AA)
    blot out(AB) my transgressions.(AC)
Wash away(AD) all my iniquity
    and cleanse(AE) me from my sin.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 50:21 Or thought the ‘I am’ was
  2. Psalm 50:23 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; the meaning of the Masoretic Text for this phrase is uncertain.
  3. Psalm 51:1 In Hebrew texts 51:1-19 is numbered 51:3-21.