The Psalms

Psalm 51

For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David; when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.

 ^51:1Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness:

 According to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

 ^51:2Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity,

 And cleanse me from my sin.

 ^51:3For I know my transgressions;

 And my sin is ever before me.

 ^51:4Against 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.

 ^51:5Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity;

 And in sin did my mother conceive me. ^51:6

 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts;

 And in the hidden part thou wilt make me to know wisdom.

 ^51:7Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean:

 Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

 ^51:8Make me to hear joy and gladness,

 That the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

 ^51:9Hide thy face from my sins,

 And blot out all mine iniquities.

 ^51:10Create in me a clean heart, O God;

 And renew a right spirit within me.

 ^51:11Cast me not away from thy presence;

 And take not thy holy Spirit from me.

 ^51:12Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation;

 And uphold me with a willing spirit.

 ^51:13Then will I teach transgressors thy ways;

 And sinners shall be converted unto thee.

 ^51:14Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation;

 And my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

 ^51:15O Lord, open thou my lips;

 And my mouth shall show forth thy praise.

 ^51:16For thou delightest not in sacrifice; else would I give it:

 Thou hast no pleasure in burnt-offering.

 ^51:17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit:

 A broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

  ^51:18Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion:

 Build thou the walls of Jerusalem.

 ^51:19Then will thou delight in the sacrifices of righteousness,

 In burnt-offering and in whole burnt-offering:

 Then will they offer bullocks upon thine altar.