51:1 [To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.] Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
51:2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
51:3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin [is] ever before me.
51:4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done [this] evil in thy sight: that thou mayest be justified when thou speakest, [and] be clear when thou judgest.
51:5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
51:6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden [part] thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
51:7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
51:8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; [that] the bones [which] thou hast broken may rejoice.
51:9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.
51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
51:11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy Holy Spirit from me.
51:12 Restore to me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me [with thy] free spirit.
51:13 [Then] will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted to thee.
51:14 Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: [and] my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
51:15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall show forth thy praise.
51:16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give [it]: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
51:17 The sacrifices of God [are] a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
51:18 Do good in thy good pleasure to Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
51:19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bulls upon thy altar.