Psalm 51

A Prayer for Forgiveness^+l

51 Be merciful to me, O God,

because of your constant love.

Because of your great mercy

wipe away my sins!

²Wash away all my evil

and make me clean from my sin!

³I recognize my faults;

I am always conscious of my sins.

^4*I have sinned against you—only against you—

and done what you consider evil.

So you are right in judging me;

you are justified in condemning me.

⁵I have been evil from the day I was born;

from the time I was conceived, I have been sinful.

⁶Sincerity and truth are what you require;

fill my mind with your wisdom.

⁷Remove my sin, and I will be clean;

wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

⁸Let me hear the sounds of joy and gladness;

and though you have crushed me and broken me,

I will be happy once again.

⁹Close your eyes to my sins

and wipe out all my evil.

¹⁰Create a pure heart in me, O God, and put a new and loyal spirit in me.

¹¹Do not banish me from your presence;

do not take your holy spirit away from me.

¹²Give me again the joy that comes from your salvation,

and make me willing to obey you.

¹³Then I will teach sinners your commands,

and they will turn back to you.

¹⁴Spare my life, O God, and save me,^m

and I will gladly proclaim your righteousness.

¹⁵Help me to speak, Lord,

and I will praise you.

¹⁶You do not want sacrifices,

or I would offer them;

you are not pleased with burnt offerings.

¹⁷My sacrifice is a humble spirit, O God;

you will not reject a humble and repentant heart.

¹⁸O God, be kind to Zion and help her;

rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

¹⁹Then you will be pleased with proper sacrifices

and with our burnt offerings;

and bulls will be sacrificed on your altar.