For I know my transgressions,
    and my sin is always before me.(A)
Against you, you only, have I sinned(B)
    and done what is evil in your sight;(C)
so you are right in your verdict
    and justified when you judge.(D)
Surely I was sinful(E) at birth,(F)
    sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
    you taught me wisdom(G) in that secret place.(H)

Cleanse(I) me with hyssop,(J) and I will be clean;
    wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.(K)
Let me hear joy and gladness;(L)
    let the bones(M) you have crushed rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins(N)
    and blot out(O) all my iniquity.

10 Create in me a pure heart,(P) O God,
    and renew a steadfast spirit within me.(Q)
11 Do not cast me(R) from your presence(S)
    or take your Holy Spirit(T) from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation(U)
    and grant me a willing spirit,(V) to sustain me.(W)

13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,(X)
    so that sinners(Y) will turn back to you.(Z)
14 Deliver me(AA) from the guilt of bloodshed,(AB) O God,
    you who are God my Savior,(AC)
    and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.(AD)
15 Open my lips, Lord,(AE)
    and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 You do not delight in sacrifice,(AF) or I would bring it;
    you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
17 My sacrifice,(AG) O God, is[a] a broken spirit;
    a broken and contrite heart(AH)
    you, God, will not despise.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 51:17 Or The sacrifices of God are

For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.

16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

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For I recognize my rebellion;
    it haunts me day and night.
Against you, and you alone, have I sinned;
    I have done what is evil in your sight.
You will be proved right in what you say,
    and your judgment against me is just.[a]
For I was born a sinner—
    yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.
But you desire honesty from the womb,[b]
    teaching me wisdom even there.

Purify me from my sins,[c] and I will be clean;
    wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Oh, give me back my joy again;
    you have broken me—
    now let me rejoice.
Don’t keep looking at my sins.
    Remove the stain of my guilt.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God.
    Renew a loyal spirit within me.
11 Do not banish me from your presence,
    and don’t take your Holy Spirit[d] from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
    and make me willing to obey you.
13 Then I will teach your ways to rebels,
    and they will return to you.
14 Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves;
    then I will joyfully sing of your forgiveness.
15 Unseal my lips, O Lord,
    that my mouth may praise you.

16 You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one.
    You do not want a burnt offering.
17 The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit.
    You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.

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Footnotes

  1. 51:4 Greek version reads and you will win your case in court. Compare Rom 3:4.
  2. 51:6 Or from the heart; Hebrew reads in the inward parts.
  3. 51:7 Hebrew Purify me with the hyssop branch.
  4. 51:11 Or your spirit of holiness.