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Psalm 51

For the Music Director. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the Prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.

Have mercy on me, O God,
    according to Your lovingkindness;
according to the abundance of Your compassion,
    blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
    and cleanse me from my sin.

For I acknowledge my transgressions,
    and my sin is ever before me.
Against You, You only, have I sinned,
    and done this evil in Your sight,
so that You are justified when You speak,
    and You are blameless when You judge.
I was brought forth in iniquity,
    and in sin my mother conceived me.
You desire truth in the inward parts,
    and in the hidden part You make me to know wisdom.

Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
    wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Make me to hear joy and gladness,
    that the bones that You have broken may rejoice.
Hide Your face from my sins,
    and blot out all my iniquities.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
    and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me away from Your presence,
    and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
    and uphold me with Your willing spirit.

13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
    and sinners will return to You.
14 Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O God,
    God of my salvation,
    and my tongue will sing aloud of Your righteousness.
15 O Lord, open my lips,
    and my mouth will declare Your praise.
16 For You do not desire sacrifice, or I would give it;
    You do not delight in burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
    a broken and a contrite heart,
    O God, You will not despise.

18 Do good to Zion in Your good pleasure;
    build the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then You will be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness,
    with burnt offering and whole burnt offering;
    then they will offer young bulls on Your altar.

Psalm 51

For the choir director: A psalm of David, regarding the time Nathan the prophet came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.

Have mercy on me, O God,
    because of your unfailing love.
Because of your great compassion,
    blot out the stain of my sins.
Wash me clean from my guilt.
    Purify me from my sin.
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.
18 Look with favor on Zion and help her;
    rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then you will be pleased with sacrifices offered in the right spirit—
    with burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings.
    Then bulls will again be sacrificed on your altar.

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.