Psalm, 51

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

¹ Show me favor, O God, according to your loyal love. Blot out my transgressions according to your great mercy.

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

³ For I am well-aware of my transgressions, And my sin is always before me.^*1

⁴ Against you—you above all^*1—I have sinned; What is bad in your eyes I have done. Therefore, you are righteous when you speak, You are right in your judgment.

⁵ Look! I was born guilty of error, And my mother conceived me in sin.^*1

⁶ Look! You find pleasure in truth in the inner person; Teach my innermost self^*1 true wisdom.

⁷ Purify me from my sin with hyssop, so that I will be clean; Wash me, so that I will be whiter than snow.

⁸ Let me hear sounds of joy and rejoicing, So that the bones you crushed will rejoice.

⁹ Turn your face away^*1 from my sins, And wipe away^*2 all my errors.

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

¹¹ Do not cast me out from your presence; And do not take your holy spirit away from me.

¹² Restore to me the joy of your salvation; Stir within me a willingness to obey you.^*1

¹³ I will teach transgressors your ways, So that sinners will return to you.

¹⁴ Save me from bloodguilt, O God, the God of my salvation, So that my tongue may joyfully declare your righteousness.

¹⁵ O Jehovah, open my lips, So that my mouth may declare your praise.

¹⁶ For you do not want a sacrifice—otherwise I would give it; You do not find delight in a whole burnt offering.

¹⁷ The sacrifices pleasing to God are a broken spirit; A heart broken and crushed, O God, you will not reject.^*1

¹⁸ In your goodwill do what is good for Zion; Build up the walls of Jerusalem.

¹⁹ Then you will take delight in the sacrifices of righteousness, The burnt sacrifices and the whole offerings; Then bulls will be offered up on your altar.