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For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.

51 Have mercy on me, God, according to your loving kindness.
    According to the multitude of your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity.
    Cleanse me from my sin.
For I know my transgressions.
    My sin is constantly before me.
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.
Behold, I was born in iniquity.
    My mother conceived me in sin.
Behold, you desire truth in the inward parts.
    You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.
Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean.
    Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness,
    that the bones which you have broken may rejoice.
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.

Psalm 51

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David; when Nathan the prophet came to him after he had sinned with Bathsheba.

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.

Wash me thoroughly [and repeatedly] from my iniquity and guilt and cleanse me and make me wholly pure from my sin!

For I am conscious of my transgressions and I acknowledge them; my sin is ever before me.

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.(A)

Behold, I was brought forth in [a state of] iniquity; my mother was sinful who conceived me [and I too am sinful].(B)

Behold, You desire truth in the inner being; make me therefore to know wisdom in my inmost heart.

Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean [ceremonially]; wash me, and I shall [in reality] be whiter than snow.

Make me to hear joy and gladness and be satisfied; let the bones which You have broken rejoice.

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.(C)

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.