For the music director; a psalm of David, written when Nathan the prophet confronted him after David’s affair with Bathsheba. 2
51:1 Have mercy on me, O God, because of 3 your loyal love!
Because of 4 your great compassion, wipe away my rebellious acts! 5
51:2 Wash away my wrongdoing! 6
Cleanse me of my sin! 7
51:3 For I am aware of 8 my rebellious acts;
I am forever conscious of my sin. 9
51:4 Against you – you above all 10 – I have sinned;
I have done what is evil in your sight.
So 11 you are just when you confront me; 12
you are right when you condemn me. 13
51:5 Look, I was guilty of sin from birth,
a sinner the moment my mother conceived me. 14
51:6 Look, 15 you desire 16 integrity in the inner man; 17
you want me to possess wisdom. 18
51:7 Sprinkle me 19 with water 20 and I will be pure; 21
wash me 22 and I will be whiter than snow. 23
51:8 Grant me the ultimate joy of being forgiven! 24
May the bones 25 you crushed rejoice! 26
51:9 Hide your face 27 from my sins!
Wipe away 28 all my guilt!
51:10 Create for me a pure heart, O God! 29
Renew a resolute spirit within me! 30
51:11 Do not reject me! 31
Do not take your Holy Spirit 32 away from me! 33
51:12 Let me again experience the joy of your deliverance!
Sustain me by giving me the desire to obey! 34
51:13 Then I will teach 35 rebels your merciful ways, 36
and sinners will turn 37 to you.
51:14 Rescue me from the guilt of murder, 38 O God, the God who delivers me!
Then my tongue will shout for joy because of your deliverance. 39
51:15 O Lord, give me the words! 40
Then my mouth will praise you. 41
51:16 Certainly 42 you do not want a sacrifice, or else I would offer it; 43
you do not desire a burnt sacrifice. 44
51:17 The sacrifices God desires are a humble spirit 45 –
O God, a humble and repentant heart 46 you will not reject. 47
51:18 Because you favor Zion, do what is good for her! 48
Fortify 49 the walls of Jerusalem! 50
51:19 Then you will accept 51 the proper sacrifices, burnt sacrifices and whole offerings;
then bulls will be sacrificed 52 on your altar. 53