Chapter 51

¹{To the chief Musician. A Psalm of David; when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bath-sheba.} Be gracious unto me, O God, according to thy loving-kindness; according to the abundance of thy tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. ²Wash me fully from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. ³For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is continually before me. ⁴Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done what is evil in thy sight; that thou mayest be justified when thou speakest, be clear when thou judgest. ⁵Behold, in iniquity was I brought forth, and in sin did my mother conceive me. ⁶Behold, thou wilt have truth in the inward parts; and in the hidden [part] thou wilt 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 gladness and joy; [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 steadfast spirit within me. ¹¹Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not the spirit of thy holiness from me. ¹²Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and let a willing spirit sustain me. ¹³I will teach transgressors thy ways, and sinners shall return unto thee. ¹⁴Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. ¹⁵Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare thy praise. ¹⁶For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou hast no pleasure 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 the walls of Jerusalem. ¹⁹Then shalt thou have sacrifices of righteousness, burnt-offering, and whole burnt-offering; then shall they offer up bullocks upon thine altar.