Chapter 51

To the chief Musician,¹⁸ A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came² unto him, after he had gone in¹ to Bathsheba.
Have mercy³ upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out³ my transgressions.

Wash¹⁶ me throughly⁵⁴ from mine iniquity, and cleanse¹⁶ me from my sin.

For I acknowledge⁴ my transgressions: and my sin [is] ever before me.

Against thee, thee only, have I sinned,¹ and done¹ [this] evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified⁴ when thou speakest,² [and] be clear⁴ when thou judgest.²

Behold, I was shapen⁴⁹ in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive¹⁴ me.

Behold, thou desirest¹ truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden⁷ [part] thou shalt make me to know⁵⁵ wisdom.

Purge¹⁷ me with hyssop, and I shall be clean:⁴ wash¹⁷ me, and I shall be whiter⁵⁵ than snow.

Make me to hear⁵⁵ joy and gladness; [that] the bones [which] thou hast broken¹⁴ may rejoice.⁴

Hide⁵⁴ thy face from my sins, and blot out³ all mine iniquities.

Create³ in me a clean heart, O God; and renew¹⁶ a right¹² spirit within me.

Cast me not away⁵⁵ from thy presence; and take⁴ not thy holy spirit from me.

Restore⁵⁴ unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold⁴ me [with thy] free spirit.

[Then] will I teach¹⁷ transgressors⁶ thy ways; and sinners shall be converted⁴ unto thee.

Deliver⁵⁴ me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: [and] my tongue shall sing aloud¹⁷ of thy righteousness.

O Lord, open⁴ thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth⁵⁵ thy praise.

For thou desirest⁴ not sacrifice; else would I give⁴ [it]: thou delightest⁴ not in burnt offering.

The sacrifices of God [are] a broken¹² spirit: a broken¹² and a contrite¹² heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.⁴

Do good⁵⁴ in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build⁴ thou the walls of Jerusalem.

Then shalt thou be pleased⁴ with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer⁵⁵ bullocks upon thine altar.