Psalms 51:1-19

  • A prayer of a repentant one

    • Sinful from conception (5)

    • “Purify me from my sin” (7)

    • “Create in me a pure heart” (10)

    • A crushed heart pleases God (17)

To the director. A melody of David, when Nathan the prophet came in to him after David had relations with Bath-sheʹba.+ 51  Show me favor, O God, according to your loyal love.+ Blot out my transgressions according to your great mercy.+   Thoroughly wash me from my error,+And cleanse me from my sin.+   For I am well-aware of my transgressions,And my sin is always before me.*+   Against you—you above all*—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.+   Look! I was born guilty of error,And my mother conceived me in sin.*+   Look! You find pleasure in truth in the inner person;+Teach my innermost self* true wisdom.   Purify me from my sin with hyssop, so that I will be clean;+Wash me, so that I will be whiter than snow.+   Let me hear sounds of joy and rejoicing,So that the bones you crushed will rejoice.+   Turn your face away* from my sins,+And wipe away* 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.* 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.*+ 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.+

Footnotes

Or “on my mind.”
Lit., “only you.”
Or “And sinful from the moment my mother conceived me.”
Or “my secret self.”
Or “Hide your face.”
Or “blot out.”
Lit., “May you support me with a willing ­spirit.”
Or “despise.”