1 To the chief music-maker. A Psalm. Of David.\

2 \51:1\When Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bath-sheba.

3 \51:1\Have pity on me, O God, in your mercy; out of a full heart, take away my sin.

4 \51:2\Let all my wrongdoing be washed away, and make me clean from evil.

5 \51:3\For I am conscious of my error; my sin is ever before me.

6 \51:4\Against you, you only, have I done wrong, working that which is evil in your eyes; so that your words may be seen to be right, and you may be clear when you are judging.

7 \51:5\Truly, I was formed in evil, and in sin did my mother give me birth.

8 \51:6\Your desire is for what is true in the inner parts: in the secrets of my soul you will give me knowledge of wisdom.

9 \51:7\Make me free from sin with hyssop: let me be washed whiter than snow.

10 \51:8\Make me full of joy and rapture; so that the bones which have been broken may be glad.

11 \51:9\Let your face be turned from my wrongdoing, and take away all my sins.

12 \51:10\Make a clean heart in me, O God; give me a right spirit again.

13 \51:11\Do not put me away from before you, or take your holy spirit from me.

14 \51:12\Give me back the joy of your salvation; let a free spirit be my support.

15 \51:13\Then will I make your ways clear to wrongdoers; and sinners will be turned to you.

16 \51:14\Be my saviour from violent death, O God, the God of my salvation; and my tongue will give praise to your righteousness.

17 \51:15\O Lord, let my lips be open, so that my mouth may make clear your praise.

18 \51:16\You have no desire for an offering or I would give it; you have no delight in burned offerings.

19 \51:17\The offerings of God are a broken spirit; a broken and sorrowing heart, O God, you will not put from you.

20 \51:18\Do good to Zion in your good pleasure, building up the walls of Jerusalem.

21 \51:19\Then you will have delight in the offerings of righteousness, in burned offerings and offerings of beasts; then they will make offerings of oxen on your altar.

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

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

2 Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity,

And cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I know my transgressions;

And my sin is ever before me.

4 Against 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.

5 Behold, I was brought forth 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 wilt make me to know wisdom.

7 Purify 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 a willing 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 show forth thy praise.

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

Thou hast no pleasure 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 wilt thou delight in the sacrifices of righteousness,

In burnt-offering and whole burnt-offering:

Then will they offer bullocks upon thine altar.