Psalms, 51

To the director. A melody of David. When Nathan the prophet came in to him after he had had relations with Bath-sheʹba.

¹ Show me favor, O God,^*1 according to your loving-kindness.^*2 According to the abundance of your mercies wipe out my transgressions.

² Thoroughly wash me from my error, And cleanse me even from my sin.

³ For my transgressions I myself know, And my sin is in front of me constantly.

⁴ Against you, you alone, I have sinned, And what is bad in your eyes I have done, In order that you may prove to be righteous when you speak, That you may be in the clear when you judge.

⁵ Look! With error I was brought forth with birth pains, And in sin my mother conceived me.

⁶ Look! You have taken delight in truthfulness itself in the inward parts; And in the secret self may you cause me to know sheer wisdom.

⁷ May you purify me from sin with hyssop, that I may be clean; May you wash me, that I may become whiter even than snow.

⁸ May you cause me to hear exultation and rejoicing, That the bones that you have crushed may be joyful.

⁹ Conceal your face from my sins, And wipe out even all my errors.

¹⁰ Create in me even a pure heart, O God, And put within me a new spirit, a steadfast one.

¹¹ Do not throw me away from before your face; And your holy spirit O do not take away from me.

¹² Do restore to me the exultation of salvation by you, And may you support me even with a willing spirit.

¹³ I will teach transgressors your ways, That sinners themselves may turn right back to you.

¹⁴ Deliver me from bloodguiltiness,^*1 O God the God of my salvation, That my tongue may joyfully tell about your righteousness.

¹⁵ O Jehovah,^*1 may you open these lips of mine, That my own mouth may tell forth your praise.

¹⁷ The sacrifices to God are a broken spirit; A heart broken and crushed, O God, you will not despise.

¹⁸ In your goodwill do deal well with Zion; May you build the walls of Jerusalem.

¹⁹ In that case you will be delighted with sacrifices of righteousness, With burnt sacrifice and whole offering; In that case bulls will be offered up on your very own altar.