Psalm 51

New International Version

Psalm 51^[a]

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

¹Have mercy^(B) on me, O God,
    according to your unfailing love;^(C)
according to your great compassion^(D)
    blot out^(E) my transgressions.^(F)
²Wash away^(G) all my iniquity
    and cleanse^(H) me from my sin.

³For I know my transgressions,
    and my sin is always before me.^(I)
⁴Against you, you only, have I sinned^(J)
    and done what is evil in your sight;^(K)
so you are right in your verdict
    and justified when you judge.^(L)
⁵Surely I was sinful^(M) at birth,^(N)
    sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
⁶Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
    you taught me wisdom^(O) in that secret place.^(P)

⁷Cleanse^(Q) me with hyssop,^(R) and I will be clean;
    wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.^(S)
⁸Let me hear joy and gladness;^(T)
    let the bones^(U) you have crushed rejoice.
⁹Hide your face from my sins^(V)
    and blot out^(W) all my iniquity.

¹⁰Create in me a pure heart,^(X) O God,
    and renew a steadfast spirit within me.^(Y)
¹¹Do not cast me^(Z) from your presence^(AA)
    or take your Holy Spirit^(AB) from me.
¹²Restore to me the joy of your salvation^(AC)
    and grant me a willing spirit,^(AD) to sustain me.^(AE)

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

¹⁸May it please you to prosper Zion,^(AQ)
    to build up the walls of Jerusalem.^(AR)
¹⁹Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous,^(AS)
    in burnt offerings^(AT) offered whole;
    then bulls^(AU) will be offered on your altar.

Footnotes

Psalm 51:1 In Hebrew texts 51:1-19 is numbered 51:3-21.
Psalm 51:17 Or The sacrifices of God are

Psalm 51

Contemporary English Version

(For the music leader. A psalm by David when the prophet Nathan came to him after David had been with Bathsheba.)

A Prayer for Forgiveness

¹^(A) You are kind, God!
    Please have pity on me.
You are always merciful!
    Please wipe away my sins.
²Wash me clean from all
    of my sin and guilt.
³I know about my sins,
and I cannot forget
    the burden of my guilt.
⁴^(B) You are really the one
    I have sinned against;
I have disobeyed you
    and have done wrong.
So it is right and fair for you
    to correct and punish me.

⁵I have sinned and done wrong
    since the day I was born.
⁶But you want complete honesty,
    so teach me true wisdom.
⁷Wash me with hyssop^[a]
until I am clean
    and whiter than snow.
⁸Let me be happy and joyful!
You crushed my bones,
    now let them celebrate.
⁹Turn your eyes from my sin
    and cover my guilt.
¹⁰Create pure thoughts in me
    and make me faithful again.
¹¹Don't chase me away from you
or take your Holy Spirit
    away from me.

¹²Make me as happy as you did
when you saved me;
    make me want to obey!
¹³I will teach sinners your Law,
    and they will return to you.
¹⁴Keep me from any deadly sin.
    Only you can save me!
Then I will shout and sing
    about your power to save.

¹⁵Help me to speak,
    and I will praise you, Lord.
¹⁶Offerings and sacrifices
    are not what you want.
¹⁷The way to please you
is to be truly sorry
    deep in our hearts.
This is the kind of sacrifice
    you won't refuse.

¹⁸Please be willing, Lord,
to help the city of Zion
    and to rebuild its walls.
¹⁹Then you will be pleased
    with the proper sacrifices,
and we will offer bulls
    on your altar once again.

Footnotes

51.7 hyssop: A small bush with bunches of small, white flowers. It was sometimes used as a symbol for making a person clean from sin.

Psalm 51

International Standard Version

To the Director: A Davidic Psalm. When the prophet Nathan came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.

A Prayer for Cleansing and Pardon

51 Have mercy, God, according to your gracious love,
    according to your unlimited compassion,
        erase my transgressions.
²Wash me from my iniquity,
    cleanse me from my sin.
³For I acknowledge my transgression;
    my sin remains continuously before me.

⁴Against you, you only, have I sinned,
and done what was evil in your sight.
As a result, you are just in your pronouncement
and clear in your judgment.

⁵Indeed, in iniquity I was brought forth;
in sin my mother conceived me.
⁶Indeed, you are pleased with truth in the inner person,
and you will teach me wisdom in my^[a] innermost parts.

⁷Purge me with hyssop,
    and I will be clean.
Wash me,
    and I will be whiter than snow.
⁸Let me know^[b] joy and gladness;
    let the bones that you have broken rejoice.
⁹Hide your countenance from my sins
    and erase the record of my iniquities.

¹⁰God, create a pure heart in me,
    and renew a right attitude within me.
¹¹Do not cast me from your presence;
    do not take your Holy Spirit from me.
¹²Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
    and let a willing attitude control me.
¹³Then I will teach transgressors about your ways,
    and sinners will turn to you.

¹⁴Deliver me from the guilt of shedding blood,^[c]
    God, God of my salvation.
        Then my tongue will sing about your righteousness.
¹⁵Lord, open my lips,
    and my mouth will declare your praise.

¹⁶Indeed, you do not delight in sacrifices,
    or I would give them,
        nor do you desire burnt offerings.
¹⁷True sacrifice to God^[d] is a broken spirit.
    A broken and chastened heart, God,
        you will not despise.

¹⁸Show favor to Zion in your good pleasure;
    and rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
¹⁹Then you will be pleased with right sacrifices,
    with burnt offerings, and with whole burnt offerings.
        Then they will offer bulls on your altar.

Footnotes

Psalm 51:6 The Heb. lacks my
Psalm 51:8 Lit. hear
Psalm 51:14 Lit. from bloods
Psalm 51:17 Lit. The sacrifice of God

New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 51

New International Version

Psalm 51^[a]

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

Footnotes

Cross references

Psalm 51

Contemporary English Version

(For the music leader. A psalm by David when the prophet Nathan came to him after David had been with Bathsheba.)

A Prayer for Forgiveness

Footnotes

Cross references

Psalm 51

International Standard Version

To the Director: A Davidic Psalm. When the prophet Nathan came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.

A Prayer for Cleansing and Pardon

Footnotes

More on the NIV

Psalm 51 New International Version

Psalm 51[a]

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

Footnotes

Cross references

Psalm 51 Contemporary English Version

(For the music leader. A psalm by David when the prophet Nathan came to him after David had been with Bathsheba.)

A Prayer for Forgiveness

Footnotes

Cross references

Psalm 51 International Standard Version

To the Director: A Davidic Psalm. When the prophet Nathan came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.

A Prayer for Cleansing and Pardon

Footnotes

More on the NIV

Psalm 51

New International Version

Psalm 51^[a]

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

Psalm 51

Contemporary English Version

Psalm 51

International Standard Version