Psalm 51 Holman Christian Standard Bible

Psalm 51

A Prayer for Restoration

For the choir director. A Davidic psalm, when Nathan the prophet came to him after he had gone to Bathsheba.^(A)

¹Be gracious to me, God,
according to Your faithful love;
according to Your abundant compassion,
blot out my rebellion.^(B)
²Wash away my guilt
and cleanse me from my sin.^(C)
³For I am conscious of my rebellion,
and my sin is always before me.^(D)
⁴Against You—You alone—I have sinned
and done this evil in Your sight.^(E)
So You are right when You pass sentence;
You are blameless when You judge.^(F)
⁵Indeed, I was guilty when I was born;
I was sinful when my mother conceived me.^(G)

⁶Surely You desire integrity in the inner self,
and You teach me wisdom deep within.^(H)
⁷Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.^(I)
⁸Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones You have crushed rejoice.^(J)
⁹Turn Your face away^[a] from my sins
and blot out all my guilt.^(K)

¹⁰God, create a clean heart for me
and renew a steadfast^[b] spirit within me.^(L)
¹¹Do not banish me from Your presence
or take Your Holy Spirit from me.^(M)
¹²Restore the joy of Your salvation to me,
and give me a willing spirit.^[c]^(N)
¹³Then I will teach the rebellious Your ways,
and sinners will return to You.^(O)

¹⁴Save me from the guilt of bloodshed, God,^(P)
the God of my salvation,
and my tongue will sing of Your righteousness.^(Q)
¹⁵Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare Your praise.^(R)
¹⁶You do not want a sacrifice, or I would give it;
You are not pleased with a burnt offering.^(S)
¹⁷The sacrifice pleasing to God is^[d] a broken spirit.
God, You will not despise a broken and humbled heart.^(T)

¹⁸In Your good pleasure, cause Zion to prosper;
build^[e] the walls of Jerusalem.^(U)
¹⁹Then You will delight in righteous sacrifices,
whole burnt offerings;
then bulls will be offered on Your altar.^(V)