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.

1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. 

2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. 

3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. 

4 Against 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. 

5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. 

6 Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place. 

7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 

8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. 

9 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. 

10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 

11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. 

12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. 

13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you. 

14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, you who are God my Saviour, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. 

15 Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise. 

16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. 

17 My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise. 

18 May it please you to prosper Zion, to build up the walls of Jerusalem. 

19 Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous, in burnt offerings offered whole; then bulls will be offered on your altar. 

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Psalm 51

English Standard Version

Create in Me a Clean Heart, O God

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, 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 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) 

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