Psalm 51

¹ For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David; when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bath-sheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: According to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

² Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.

³ For I know my transgressions; And my sin is ever before me.

⁴ Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, And done that which is evil in thy sight; That thou mayest be justified when thou speakest, And be clear when thou judgest.

⁵ Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity; And in sin did my mother conceive me.

⁶ Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts; And in the hidden part thou wilt make me to know wisdom.

⁷ Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

⁸ Make me to hear joy and gladness, That the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

⁹ Hide thy face from my sins, And blot out all mine iniquities.

¹⁰ Create in me a clean heart, O God; And renew a right spirit within me.

¹¹ Cast me not away from thy presence; And take not thy holy Spirit from me.

¹² Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; And uphold me with a willing spirit.

¹³ Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; And sinners shall be converted unto thee.

¹⁴ Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation; And my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

¹⁵ O Lord, open thou my lips; And my mouth shall show forth thy praise.

¹⁶ For thou delightest not in sacrifice; else would I give it: Thou hast no pleasure in burnt-offering.

¹⁷ The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: A broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

¹⁸ Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: Build thou the walls of Jerusalem.

¹⁹ Then wilt thou delight in the sacrifices of righteousness, In burnt-offering and whole burnt-offering: Then will they offer bullocks upon thine altar.