PsalmsChapter 51
Tap any verse to comment or suggest a better wording.
1For the music leader. A psalm of David. He wrote it when Nathan the prophet came to him after David committed adultery with Bathsheba.
God, have mercy on me because of your faithful love.
Because your kindness is so great, wipe out my sins. 2Wash away all my guilt.
Make me clean from my sin. 3For I know the wrong things I have done.
My sin is always in front of me. 4I have sinned against you, only you.
I have done what is evil in your eyes.
So you are proved right when you speak,
and blameless when you judge. 5I was a sinner when I was born.
I was sinful from the time my mother became pregnant with me. 6You want truth deep inside me.
You teach me wisdom in the secret place of my heart. 7Make me pure with hyssop, and I will be clean.
Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 8Let me hear joy and gladness.
Let the bones you have crushed be glad. 9Turn your face away from my sins.
Wipe out all my guilt. 10Create in me a clean heart, O God.
Give me a new and right spirit inside me. 11Do not send me away from you.
Do not take your Holy Spirit from me. 12Give me back the joy of being saved by you.
Give me a willing spirit to hold me up. 13Then I will teach your ways to those who do wrong.
And sinners will come back to you. 14God, you are the God who saves me.
Save me from the guilt of spilling blood.
Then my tongue will sing about how righteous you are. 15Lord, open my lips.
Then my mouth will tell your praise. 16For you do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it.
You are not pleased with burnt offerings. 17The sacrifice God wants is a broken spirit.
God, you will not turn away
a heart that is broken and sorry for sin. 18Be good to Zion, as it pleases you.
Build up the walls of Jerusalem. 19Then you will delight in right sacrifices,
in whole burnt offerings.
Then bulls will be offered on your altar.