Psalm 51

Psalm 51

For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.^a

^*Have mercy^b on me, O God,

according to your unfailing love;^c

according to your great compassion^d

blot out^e my transgressions.^f

Wash away^g all my iniquity

and cleanse^h me from my sin.

For I know my transgressions,

and my sin is always before me.ⁱ

Against you, you only, have I sinned^j

and done what is evil in your sight;^k

so you are right in your verdict

and justified when you judge.^l

Surely I was sinful^m at birth,ⁿ

sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;

you taught me wisdom^o in that secret place.^p

Cleanse^q me with hyssop,^r and I will be clean;

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

Let me hear joy and gladness;^t

let the bones^u you have crushed rejoice.

Hide your face from my sins^v

and blot out^w all my iniquity.

Create in me a pure heart,^x O God,

and renew a steadfast spirit within me.^y

Do not cast me^z from your presence^a

or take your Holy Spirit^b from me.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation^c

and grant me a willing spirit,^d to sustain me.^e

Then I will teach transgressors your ways,^f

and sinners^g will turn back to you.^h

Deliver meⁱ from bloodguilt,^j O God,

you who are God my Savior,^k

and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.^l

Open my lips, Lord,^m

and my mouth will declare your praise.

You do not delight in sacrifice,ⁿ or I would bring it;

you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.

My sacrifice,^o O God, is a broken spirit;

a broken and contrite heart^p

you, God, will not despise.

May it please you to prosper Zion,^q

to build up the walls of Jerusalem.^r

Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous,^s

in burnt offerings^t offered whole;

then bulls^u will be offered on your altar.