Psalm 51:1-5

Common English Bible

Psalm 51

For the music leader. A psalm of David, when the prophet Nathan came to him just after he had been with Bathsheba.

51 Have mercy on me, God, according to your faithful love!
    Wipe away my wrongdoings according to your great compassion!
²Wash me completely clean of my guilt;
    purify me from my sin!
³Because I know my wrongdoings,
    my sin is always right in front of me.
⁴I’ve sinned against you—you alone.
    I’ve committed evil in your sight.
That’s why you are justified when you render your verdict,
    completely correct when you issue your judgment.
⁵Yes, I was born in guilt, in sin,
    from the moment my mother conceived me.