Psalm 51

English Standard Version

1 To 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)2 Wash 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)3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. (Ps 32:5; Pr 28:13)4 Against 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)5 Behold, 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)6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. (Job 38:36)7 Purge 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)8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. (Ps 35:10; Ps 44:19; Isa 38:13)9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. (Ps 51:1; Jer 16:17)10 Create 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)11 Cast 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)12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you. (Lu 22:32)14 Deliver 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)15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.16 For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. (Ps 40:6)17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. (Ps 34:18)18 Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; build up the walls of Jerusalem; (Ps 69:35; Ps 122:6; Ps 147:2)19 then 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)