Psalm 51:1–19

¹Be gracious to me, God,

according to your faithful love;

according to your abundant compassion,

blot out my rebellion.^z

²Completely wash away my guilt

and cleanse me from my sin.^aa

³For I am conscious of my rebellion,

and my sin is always before me.^ab

⁴Against you—you alone—I have sinned

and done this evil in your sight.^ac

So you are right when you pass sentence;

you are blameless when you judge.^ad

⁵Indeed, I was guilty when I was born;

I was sinful when my mother conceived me.^ae

⁶Surely you desire integrity in the inner self,

and you teach me wisdom deep within.^af

⁷Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean;

wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.^ag

⁸Let me hear joy and gladness;

let the bones you have crushed rejoice.^ah

⁹Turn your face away^A from my sins

and blot out all my guilt.^ai

¹⁰God, create a clean heart for me

and renew a steadfast^B spirit within me.^a

¹¹Do not banish me from your presence

or take your Holy Spirit from me.^b

¹²Restore the joy of your salvation to me,

and sustain me by giving me a willing spirit.^c

¹³Then I will teach the rebellious your ways,

and sinners will return to you.^d

¹⁴Save me from the guilt of bloodshed, God^e—

God of my salvation—

and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.^f

¹⁵Lord, open my lips,

and my mouth will declare your praise.^g

¹⁶You do not want a sacrifice, or I would give it;

you are not pleased with a burnt offering.^h

¹⁷The sacrifice pleasing to God is^C a broken spirit.

You will not despise a broken and humbled heart, God.ⁱ

¹⁸In your good pleasure, cause Zion to prosper;

build the walls of Jerusalem.^j

¹⁹Then you will delight in righteous sacrifices,

whole burnt offerings;

then bulls will be offered on your altar.^k