1To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy on me,[1] O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. (2Sa 12:1; Ps 4:1; Ps 51:9; Ps 106:45; Isa 43:25; Isa 44:22; Ac 3:19; Col 2:14)2Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! (Le 13:6; Ps 51:7; Isa 1:16; Jer 4:14; Mal 3:3; Ac 22:16; Heb 9:14; 1Jo 1:7; 1Jo 1:9)3For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. (Ps 32:5; Pr 28:13)4Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. (Ge 20:6; Ge 39:9; 2Sa 12:13; Lu 15:18; Lu 15:21; Ro 3:4; 1Co 8:12)5Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. (Job 14:4; Job 15:14; Ro 5:12; Ro 5:19; Eph 2:3)6Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. (Job 38:36)7Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. (Ex 12:22; Le 14:4; Nu 19:18; Ps 51:2; Isa 1:18; Heb 9:19)8Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. (Ps 35:10; Ps 44:19; Isa 38:13)9Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. (Ps 51:1; Jer 16:17)10Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right[2] spirit within me. (1Sa 10:9; Ps 24:4; Jer 24:7; La 5:21; Eze 11:19; Eze 36:26; Mt 5:8; Ac 15:9; Eph 4:23)11Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. (2Ki 13:23; 2Ki 17:20; 2Ki 24:20; Ps 102:10; Jer 7:15; Ro 8:9; Eph 4:30)12Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.13Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you. (Lu 22:32)14Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. (2Sa 11:17; 2Sa 12:9; Ps 24:5; Ps 35:28; Ps 71:8; Ps 71:15; Ps 71:24; 1Jo 1:9)15O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.16For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. (Ps 40:6)17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. (Ps 34:18)18Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; build up the walls of Jerusalem; (Ps 69:35; Ps 122:6; Ps 147:2)19then will you delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar. (De 33:10; Ps 4:5; Mal 3:3)
Psalm 51
New International Version
For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.
1Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.2Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.3For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.4Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge.5Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.6Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place.7Cleanse me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.8Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.9Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.10Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.11Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.12Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.13Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you.14Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, you who are God my Saviour, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.15Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise.16You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.17My sacrifice, O God, is[1] a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.18May it please you to prosper Zion, to build up the walls of Jerusalem.19Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous, in burnt offerings offered whole; then bulls will be offered on your altar.
Psalm 51
King James Version
1To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.2Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.3For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.4Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.5Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.6Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.7Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.8Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.9Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.10Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.11Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.12Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.13Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.14Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.15O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.16For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it : thou delightest not in burnt offering.17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.18Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.19Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.
Psalm 51
New International Reader’s Version
For the director of music. A psalm of David when the prophet Nathan came to him. Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.
1God, have mercy on me according to your faithful love. Because your love is so tender and kind, wipe out my lawless acts.2Wash away all the evil things I’ve done. Make me pure from my sin.3I know the lawless acts I’ve committed. I can’t forget my sin.4You are the one I’ve really sinned against. I’ve done what is evil in your sight. So you are right when you sentence me. You are fair when you judge me.5I know I’ve been a sinner ever since I was born. I’ve been a sinner ever since my mother became pregnant with me.6I know that you wanted faithfulness even when I was in my mother’s body. You taught me wisdom in that secret place.7Sprinkle me with hyssop, then I shall be clean. Wash me, then I shall be whiter than snow.8Let me hear you say, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’ That will bring me joy and gladness. Let the body you have broken be glad.9Take away all my sins. Wipe away all the evil things I’ve done.10God, create a pure heart in me. Give me a new spirit that is faithful to you.11Don’t send me away from you. Don’t take your Holy Spirit away from me.12Give me back the joy that comes from being saved by you. Give me a spirit that obeys you so that I will keep going.13Then I will teach your ways to those who commit lawless acts. And sinners will turn back to you.14You are the God who saves me. I have committed murder. God, take away my guilt. Then my tongue will sing about how right you are no matter what you do.15Lord, open my lips so that I can speak. Then my mouth will praise you.16You don’t take delight in sacrifice. If you did, I would bring it. You don’t take pleasure in burnt offerings.17The greatest sacrifice you want is a broken spirit. God, you will gladly accept a heart that is broken because of sadness over sin.18May you be pleased to give Zion success. May it please you to build up the walls of Jerusalem.19Then you will delight in the sacrifices of those who do what is right. Whole burnt offerings will bring delight to you. And bulls will be offered on your altar.