Psalms 51

1Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: According to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

1Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love; because of your great compassion, wipe away the stains of my sins.

2Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.

2Wash me thoroughly from my guilt and cleanse me from my sin.

3For I know my transgressions; And my sin is ever before me.

3For I am well aware of my wrongdoings, and my sin is always on my mind.

4Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, And done that which is evil in thy sight; That thou mayest be justified when thou speakest, And be clear when thou judgest.

4Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You are right when you speak and fair when you judge me.

5Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity; And in sin did my mother conceive me.

5The truth is, I was born a sinner—yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.

6Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts; And in the hidden part thou wilt make me to know wisdom.

6I know you demand honesty in the heart; you teach me wisdom in my most private thoughts.

7Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

7Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

8Make me to hear joy and gladness, That the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

8Let me hear the sounds of joy and gladness again; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.

9Hide thy face from my sins, And blot out all mine iniquities.

9Turn your face away from my sins and wipe out all my guilt.

10Create in me a clean heart, O God; And renew a right spirit within me.

10Create a pure heart in me, O God, and put a new, loyal spirit within me.

11Cast me not away from thy presence; And take not thy holy Spirit from me.

11Do not banish me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit away from me.

12Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; And uphold me with a willing spirit.

12Give me back the joy of your salvation and give me a willing spirit to sustain me.

13Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; And sinners shall be converted unto thee.

13Then I will teach your ways to others who sin, and they will turn back to you.

14Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation; Andmy tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

14Save me from the guilt of murder, O God, the God who saves me; then I will sing out loud about your righteousness.

15O Lord, open thou my lips; And my mouth shall show forth thy praise.

15O Lord, open my lips, so that my mouth may praise you.

16For thou delightest not in sacrifice; else would I give it: Thou hast no pleasure in burnt-offering.

16You do not want animal sacrifices, or I would give them; you take no delight in burnt offerings.

17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: A broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

17The sacrifice God wants is a broken spirit; O God, you will not reject a heart that is broken and sorry for sin.

18Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: Build thou the walls of Jerusalem.

18Be good to Zion because it pleases you; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

19Then wilt thou delight in the sacrifices of righteousness, In burnt-offering and whole burnt-offering: Then will they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

19Then you will be pleased with proper sacrifices and whole burnt offerings; then young bulls will be offered on your altar.