Psalms 51

Psalm 51

Create in Me a Clean Heart, O God

For the choir director. A Psalm of David. When ▼

▼2 Sam 12:1

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 abundance of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.
2Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity
And cleanse me from my sin.
3For ▼

▼Or I myself know

I know my transgressions,
And my sin is ever before me.
4Against You, You only, I have sinned
And done what is evil in Your sight,
So that You ▼

▼Or may be in the right

are justified ▼

▼Many mss in Your words

when You speak
And pure when You judge.
5Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
And in sin my mother conceived me.
6Behold, You delight in truth in the ▼

▼Or inward parts

innermost being,
And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom.
7 ▼

▼ Or May You purify...that I may be clean

Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
▼

▼ Or May You wash

Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 ▼

▼ Or May You make

Make me to hear joy and gladness,
Let the bones which You have crushed rejoice.
9Hide Your face from my sins
And blot out all my iniquities.
10Create ▼

▼Lit for

in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew ▼

▼Or an upright

a steadfast spirit within me.
11Do not cast me away from Your presence
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
12Restore 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 ▼

▼Or turn back

be converted to You.
14Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation;
Then my tongue will joyfully sing of Your righteousness.
15O Lord, ▼

▼Or may You open

open my lips,
That my mouth may declare Your praise.
16For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it;
You are not pleased with burnt offering.
17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
A broken and a ▼

▼Lit crushed

contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.
18By Your favor do good to Zion;
▼

▼ Or May You build

Build the walls of Jerusalem.
19Then You will delight in ▼

▼Or sacrifices of righteousness

righteous sacrifices,
In burnt offering and whole burnt offering;
Then ▼

▼Lit they will offer young bulls

young bulls will be offered on Your altar.