Psalms 51 - Prayer Tents

Psalms 51

New Living Translation

For the choir director： A psalm of David, regarding the time Nathan the prophet came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.

51Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins.

2Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin.

3For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night.

4Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just[1].

5For I was born a sinner - yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.

6But you desire honesty from the womb[2], teaching me wisdom even there.

7Purify me from my sins[3], and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

8Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me - now let me rejoice.

9Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt.

10Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.

11Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit[4] from me.

12Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.

13Then I will teach your ways to rebels, and they will return to you.

14Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves; then I will joyfully sing of your forgiveness.

15Unseal my lips, O Lord, that my mouth may praise you.

16You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering.

17The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.

18Look with favor on Zion and help her; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

19Then you will be pleased with sacrifices offered in the right spirit - with burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings. Then bulls will again be sacrificed on your altar.

[1] Psalms 51:4Greek version reads and you will win your case in court. Compare Rom 3.4
[2] Psalms 51:6Or from the heart; Hebrew reads in the inward parts
[3] Psalms 51:7Hebrew Purify me with the hyssop branch
[4] Psalms 51:11Or your spirit of holiness