Psalm 51  New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

³ For I know my transgressions,
    and my sin is ever before me.^(C)
4 Against you, you alone, have I sinned
    and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are justified in your sentence
    and blameless when you pass judgment.^(D)
5 Indeed, I was born guilty,
    a sinner when my mother conceived me.^(E)

⁶ You desire truth in the inward being;^[a]
    therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.^(F)
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
    wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.^(G)
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
    let the bones that you have crushed rejoice.^(H)
9 Hide your face from my sins,
    and blot out all my iniquities.^(I)

¹⁰ Create in me a clean heart, O God,
    and put a new and right^[b] spirit within me.^(J)
11 Do not cast me away from your presence,
    and do not take your holy spirit from me.^(K)
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
    and sustain in me a willing^[c] spirit.^(L)

¹³ Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
    and sinners will return to you.^(M)
14 Deliver me from bloodshed, O God,
    O God of my salvation,
    and my tongue will sing aloud of your deliverance.^(N)

¹⁵ O Lord, open my lips,
    and my mouth will declare your praise.^(O)
16 For you have no delight in sacrifice;
    if I were to give a burnt offering, you would not be pleased.^(P)
17 The sacrifice acceptable to God^[d] is a broken spirit;
    a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.^(Q)

¹⁸ Do good to Zion in your good pleasure;
    rebuild the walls of Jerusalem;^(R)
19 then you will delight in right sacrifices,
    in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings;
    then bulls will be offered on your altar.^(S)