Psalm 50–51
1 The Mighty One, God, the Lord,e
speaks and summons the earth
from the rising of the sun to where it sets.f
2 From Zion,g perfect in beauty,h
God shines forth.i
3 Our God comesj
and will not be silent;k
and around him a tempestn rages.
4 He summons the heavens above,
and the earth,o that he may judge his people:p
5 “Gather to me this consecrated people,q
who made a covenantr with me by sacrifice.”
6 And the heavens proclaims his righteousness,
for he is a God of justice.a,b t
7 “Listen, my people, and I will speak;
I will testifyu against you, Israel:
I am God, your God.v
8 I bring no chargesw against you concerning your sacrifices
or concerning your burnt offerings,x which are ever before me.
9 I have no need of a bully from your stall
10 for every animal of the forestb is mine,
and the cattle on a thousand hills.c
11 I know every birdd in the mountains,
and the insects in the fieldse are mine.
12 If I were hungry I would not tell you,
for the worldf is mine, and all that is in it.g
13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls
or drink the blood of goats?
14 “Sacrifice thank offeringsh to God,
fulfill your vowsi to the Most High,j
15 and callk on me in the day of trouble;l
I will deliverm you, and you will honorn me.”
16 But to the wicked person, God says:
“What right have you to recite my laws
or take my covenanto on your lips?p
17 You hateq my instruction
and cast my words behindr you.
18 When you see a thief, you joins with him;
you throw in your lot with adulterers.t
19 You use your mouth for evil
and harness your tongue to deceit.u
20 You sit and testify against your brotherv
and slander your own mother’s son.
21 When you did these things and I kept silent,w
you thought I was exactlyc like you.
But I now arraignx you
and set my accusationsy before you.
22 “Consider this, you who forget God,z
or I will tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue you:a
23 Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me,
and to the blamelessd I will show my salvation.b”
Psalm 51a
For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.c
1 Have mercyd on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;e
according to your great compassionf
2 Wash awayi all my iniquity
and cleansej me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.k
4 Against you, you only, have I sinnedl
and done what is evil in your sight;m
so you are right in your verdict
and justified when you judge.n
5 Surely I was sinfulo at birth,p
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
6 Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
you taught me wisdomq in that secret place.r
7 Cleanses me with hyssop,t and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.u
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;v
let the bonesw you have crushed rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sinsx
and blot outy all my iniquity.
10 Create in me a pure heart,z O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.a
11 Do not cast meb from your presencec
or take your Holy Spiritd from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvatione
and grant me a willing spirit,f to sustain me.g
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,h
so that sinnersi will turn back to you.j
14 Deliver mek from the guilt of bloodshed,l O God,
you who are God my Savior,m
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.n
15 Open my lips, Lord,o
and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 You do not delight in sacrifice,p or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
17 My sacrifice,q O God, isb a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heartr
you, God, will not despise.
18 May it please you to prosper Zion,s
to build up the walls of Jerusalem.t
19 Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous,u
in burnt offeringsv offered whole;
then bullsw will be offered on your altar.