51:1 *[For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.] Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. / *In Hebrew texts 51:1-19 is numbered 51:3-21.
51:2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.
51:3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.
51:4 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.
51:5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
51:6 Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place.
51:7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
51:8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
51:9 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.
51:10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
51:11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
51:12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
51:13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you.
51:14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, you who are God my Savior, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
51:15 Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise.
51:16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
51:17 My sacrifice, O God, is* a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise. / *Or The sacrifices of God are
51:18 May it please you to prosper Zion, to build up the walls of Jerusalem.
51:19 Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous, in burnt offerings offered whole; then bulls will be offered on your altar.