Psalms 51

Psalm 51

A Prayer for Restoration

For the choir director. A psalm of David, when the prophet Nathan came to him after he had gone to Bathsheba.

¹Be gracious to me, God, according to your faithful love; according to your abundant compassion, blot out my rebellion.²

³Completely wash away my guilt and cleanse me from my sin.⁴

⁵For I am conscious of my rebellion, and my sin is always before me.⁶

⁷Against you — you alone — I have sinned and done this evil in your sight. So you are right when you pass sentence; you are blameless when you judge.⁸

⁹Indeed, I was guilty when I was born; I was sinful when my mother conceived me.¹⁰

¹¹Surely you desire integrity in the inner self, and you teach me wisdom deep within.¹²

¹³Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.¹⁴

¹⁵Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.¹⁶

¹⁷Turn your face away from my sins and blot out all my guilt.¹⁸

¹⁹God, create a clean heart for me and renew a steadfast spirit within me.²⁰

²¹Do not banish me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.²²

²³Restore the joy of your salvation to me, and sustain me by giving me a willing spirit.²⁴

²⁵Then I will teach the rebellious your ways, and sinners will return to you.²⁶

²⁷Save me from the guilt of bloodshed, God — God of my salvation — and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.²⁸

²⁹Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.³⁰

³¹You do not want a sacrifice, or I would give it; you are not pleased with a burnt offering.³²

³³The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. You will not despise a broken and humbled heart, God.³⁴

³⁵In your good pleasure, cause Zion to prosper; build the walls of Jerusalem.³⁶

³⁷Then you will delight in righteous sacrifices, whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar.³⁸