Psalms

The second book of Psalms, song 51, New English Translation and King James Version

Psalm 51

New English Translation

For the music director; a psalm of David, written when Nathan the prophet confronted him after David's affair with Bathsheba.

   1 Have mercy on me, O God, because of your loyal love! Because of your great compassion, wipe away my rebellious acts!
   2 Wash away my wrongdoing! Cleanse me of my sin!
   3 For I am aware of my rebellious acts; I am forever conscious of my sin.
   4 Against you - you above all - I have sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. So you are just when you confront me; you are right when you condemn me.
   5 Look, I was guilty of sin from birth, a sinner the moment my mother conceived me.
   6 Look, you desire integrity in the inner man; you want me to possess wisdom.
   7 Sprinkle me with water and I will be pure; wash me and I will be whiter than snow.
   8 Grant me the ultimate joy of being forgiven! May the bones you crushed rejoice!
   9 Hide your face from my sins! Wipe away all my guilt!
   10 Create for me a pure heart, O God! Renew a resolute spirit within me!
   11 Do not reject me! Do not take your Holy Spirit away from me!
   12 Let me again experience the joy of your deliverance! Sustain me by giving me the desire to obey!
   13 Then I will teach rebels your merciful ways, and sinners will turn to you.
   14 Rescue me from the guilt of murder, O God, the God who delivers me! Then my tongue will shout for joy because of your deliverance.
   15 O LORD, give me the words! Then my mouth will praise you.
   16 Certainly you do not want a sacrifice, or else I would offer it; you do not desire a burnt sacrifice.
   17 The sacrifices God desires are a humble spirit - O God, a humble and repentant heart you will not reject.
   18 Because you favor Zion, do what is good for her! Fortify the walls of Jerusalem!
   19 Then you will accept the proper sacrifices, burnt sacrifices and whole offerings; then bulls will be sacrificed on your altar.

King James Version

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bath-sheba.

   1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
   2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
   3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
   4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
   5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
   6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
   7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
   8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
   9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
   10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
   11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
   12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
   13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
   14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
   15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
   16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
   17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
   18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
   19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.