Psalm 51

A Prayer of Repentance

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David aWhen Nathan the Prophet Went to Him, After He Had Gone in to Bathsheba.

1 Have mercy upon me, O God,

According to Your lovingkindness;

According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,

bBlot out my transgressions.

2 cWash me thoroughly from my iniquity,

And cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I acknowledge my transgressions,

And my sin is always before me.

4 dAgainst You, You only, have I sinned,

And done this evil ein Your sight—

fThat You may be found just 1when You speak,

And blameless when You judge.

5 gBehold, I was brought forth in iniquity,

And in sin my mother conceived me.

6 Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts,

And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.

7 hPurge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;

Wash me, and I shall be iwhiter than snow.

8 Make me hear joy and gladness,

That the bones You have broken jmay rejoice.

9 Hide Your face from my sins,

And blot out all my iniquities.

10 kCreate in me a clean heart, O God,

And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

11 Do not cast me away from Your presence,

And do not take Your lHoly Spirit from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,

And uphold me by Your mgenerous Spirit.

13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,

And sinners shall be converted to You.

14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,

The God of my salvation,

And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.

15 O Lord, open my lips,

And my mouth shall show forth Your praise.

16 For nYou do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it;

You do not delight in burnt offering.

17 oThe sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,

A broken and a contrite heart—

These, O God, You will not despise.

18 Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion;

Build the walls of Jerusalem.

19 Then You shall be pleased with pthe sacrifices of righteousness,

With burnt offering and whole burnt offering;

Then they shall offer bulls on Your altar.