Psalm
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Psalm 51

A Contrite Sinner’s Prayer for Pardon.

For the choir director. A Psalm of David, when [a]Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.

1Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness;
According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity
And cleanse me from my sin.
3 For [b]I know my transgressions,
And my sin is ever before me.
4 Against You, You only, I have sinned
And done what is evil in Your sight,
So that You [c]are justified [d]when You speak
And [e]blameless when You judge.

5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
And in sin my mother conceived me.
6 Behold, You desire truth in the [f]innermost being,
And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom.
7 [g]Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
[h]Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 [i]Make me to hear joy and gladness,
Let the bones which You have broken rejoice.
9 Hide Your face from my sins
And blot out all my iniquities.

10 Create [j]in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew [k]a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me away from Your presence
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation
And sustain me with a willing spirit.
13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners will [l]be converted to You.

14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation;
Then my tongue will joyfully sing of Your righteousness.
15 O Lord, [m]open my lips,
That my mouth may declare Your praise.
16 For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it;
You are not pleased with burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.

18 By Your favor do good to Zion;
[n]Build the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then You will delight in [o]righteous sacrifices,
In burnt offering and whole burnt offering;
Then [p]young bulls will be offered on Your altar.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 51:1 2 Sam 12:1
  2. Psalm 51:3 Or I myself know
  3. Psalm 51:4 Or may be in the right
  4. Psalm 51:4 Many mss read in Your words
  5. Psalm 51:4 Lit pure
  6. Psalm 51:6 Or inward parts
  7. Psalm 51:7 Or May You purify...that I may be clean
  8. Psalm 51:7 Or May You wash
  9. Psalm 51:8 Or May You make
  10. Psalm 51:10 Lit for
  11. Psalm 51:10 Or an upright
  12. Psalm 51:13 Or turn back
  13. Psalm 51:15 Or may You open
  14. Psalm 51:18 Or May You build
  15. Psalm 51:19 Or sacrifices of righteousness
  16. Psalm 51:19 Lit they will offer young bulls
Psalm 51