51:1 Have mercy on me, O God, because of1 your loyal love!
Because of2 your great compassion, wipe away my rebellious acts!3
51:2 Scrub away my wrongdoing!4
Cleanse me of my sin!5
51:3 For I am aware of6 my rebellious acts;
I am forever conscious of my sin.7
51:4 Against you, especially you,8 I have sinned;
I have done what is sinful in your sight.
So9 you are just when you confront me;10
you are right when you condemn me.11
51:5 Look, I was prone to do wrong from birth;
I was a sinner the moment my mother conceived me.12
51:6 Look,13 you desire14 integrity in the inner man;15
you want me to possess wisdom.16
51:7 Sprinkle me17 with water18 and I will be pure;19
wash me20 and I will be whiter than snow.21
51:8 Give me the ecstatic joy of being forgiven!22
May the bones23 you crushed rejoice!24
51:9 Hide your face25 from my sins!
Wipe away26 all my wrong acts!
51:10 Create for me a pure heart!27
Transform me and give me integrity!28
Do not take your Holy Spirit30 away from me!31
51:12 Let me again experience the joy of your deliverance!
Sustain me by giving me the desire to obey!32
51:13 Then I will teach33 rebels your merciful ways,34
and sinners will turn35 to you.
51:14 Rescue me from the guilt of murder,36 O God, the God who delivers me!
Then my tongue will shout for joy because of your deliverance.37
51:15 O sovereign Master, give me reason to celebrate!38
Then my mouth will praise you.39
51:16 Certainly40 you do not want a sacrifice, or else I would offer it;41
you do not desire a burnt sacrifice.42
51:17 The “sacrifices” God desires are a humble attitude43—
O God, a humble and repentant heart44 you will not reject.45
51:18 Be favorably disposed to Zion!46
Build47 the walls of Jerusalem!48
51:19 Then you will accept49 the proper sacrifices, burnt sacrifices and whole offerings;
then bulls will be sacrificed50 on your altar.51
Psalm 5252
For the music director; a well-written song53 by David. It was written when Doeg the Edomite went and informed Saul: “David has arrived at the home of Ahimelech.”54