Psalm 51

A Prayer for Forgiveness

For the director of music. A psalm of David when the prophet Nathan came to David after David’s sin with Bathsheba.

51God, be merciful to me

because you are loving.

Because you are always ready to be merciful,

wipe out all my wrongs.

²Wash away all my guilt

and make me clean again.

³I know about my wrongs,

and I can’t forget my sin.

⁴You are the only one I have sinned against;

I have done what you say is wrong.

You are right when you speak

and fair when you judge.

⁵I was brought into this world in sin.

In sin my mother gave birth to me.

⁶You want me to be completely truthful,

so teach me wisdom.

⁷Take away my sin, and I will be clean.

Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

⁸Make me hear sounds of joy and gladness;

let the bones you crushed be happy again.

⁹Turn your face from my sins

and wipe out all my guilt.

¹⁰Create in me a pure heart, God,

and make my spirit right again.

¹¹Do not send me away from you

or take your Holy Spirit away from me.

¹²Give me back the joy of your salvation.

Keep me strong by giving me a willing spirit.

¹³Then I will teach your ways to those who do wrong,

and sinners will turn back to you.

¹⁴God, save me from the guilt of murder,

God of my salvation,

and I will sing about your goodness.

¹⁵Lord, let me speak

so I may praise you.

¹⁶You are not pleased by sacrifices, or I would give them.

You don’t want burnt offerings.

¹⁷The sacrifice God wants is a broken spirit.

God, you will not reject a heart that is broken and sorry for sin.

¹⁸Do whatever good you wish for Jerusalem.

Rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

¹⁹Then you will be pleased with right sacrifices and whole burnt offerings,

and bulls will be offered on your altar.