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51 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness. According to the multitude of Your compassions, put away my iniquities.

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity; and cleanse me from my sin.

For I know my iniquities; and my sin is ever before me.

Against You, against You only, have I sinned and done evil in Your sight; that You may be just when You speak and pure when You judge.

Behold, I was born in iniquity; and in sin my mother conceived me.

Behold, You love truth to the core. Therefore, You have taught me wisdom in my core.

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

Make me hear joy and gladness; so that the bones which You have broken may rejoice.

Hide Your Face from my sins; and put away 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 establish me with Your free Spirit.

13 Then I shall teach Your ways to the wicked; and sinners shall be converted to You.

14 Deliver me from blood, O God, the God of my salvation; and my tongue shall sing joyfully of Your righteousness.

15 Open my lips, O LORD, and my mouth shall show forth Your praise.

16 For You desire no sacrifice, though I would give it. You do not delight in burnt offering.

17 The sacrifices of God are a contrite spirit. A contrite and a broken heart, O God, You will not despise.

18 Be favorable to Zion for Your good pleasure. Build the walls of Jerusalem.

19 Then shall You accept the sacrifices of righteousness, the burnt offering and oblation. Then shall they offer calves upon Your altar. To him who excels: A Psalm of David to give instruction, when Doeg the Edomite came and showed Saul and said to him, “David has come to the house of Ahimelech.”

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

Cleanse Me From My Sin

Heading
For the choir director. A psalm by David.
When Nathan the prophet came to him after he had gone to Bathsheba.[a]

David’s Plea for Forgiveness

Be gracious to me, God,
    according to your mercy.
Erase my acts of rebellion
    according to the greatness of your compassion.
Scrub me clean from my guilt.
Purify me from my sin.

David’s Confession

For I admit my rebellious acts.
My sin is always in front of me.
Against you, you only, have I sinned,
and I have done this evil in your eyes.
So you are justified when you sentence me.
You are blameless when you judge.
Certainly, I was guilty when I was born.
I was sinful when my mother conceived me.

David’s Need for Renewal

Since you desire truth on the inside,
in my hidden heart you teach me wisdom.

Remove my sin with hyssop, and I will be clean.
Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness.
Let the bones you have crushed celebrate.
Hide your face from my sins.
Erase all my guilty deeds.
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God.
Renew an unwavering spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence.
Do not take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation.
Sustain me with a willing spirit.

David’s Pledge of Renewed Service

13 I will teach rebels your ways,
and sinners will turn to you.
14 Deliver me from bloodshed, O God,
    the God who saves me.
My tongue will shout for joy about your righteousness.
15 Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 For you do not delight in sacrifice,
or I would give it.
You do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
17 The sacrifices God wants are a broken spirit.
A broken and crushed heart, O God, you will not despise.

David’s Prayer for the People

18 As it pleases you, do good for Zion.
Build up the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then you will be pleased with righteous sacrifices,
    burnt offerings and whole offerings.
Then bulls will be offered up on your altar.