51: 1 A Contrite Sinner’s Prayer for Pardon. For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David; when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bath-sheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: According to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
51: 2 Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.
51: 3 For I know my transgressions; And my sin is ever before me.
51: 4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, And done that which is evil in thy sight; That thou mayest be justified when thou speakest, And be clear when thou judgest.
51: 5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity; And in sin did my mother conceive me.
51: 6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts; And in the hidden part thou wilt make me to know wisdom.
51: 7 Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
51: 8 Make me to hear joy and gladness, That the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
51: 9 Hide thy face from my sins, And blot out all mine iniquities.
51: 10 Create ³⁰⁴for me a clean heart, O God; And renew a ³⁰⁵right spirit within me.
³⁰⁴Or, in me
³⁰⁵Or, stedfast spirit

51: 11 Cast me not away from thy presence; And take not thy holy spirit from me.
51: 12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; And uphold me with a willing spirit.
51: 13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; And sinners shall ³⁰⁶be converted unto thee.
³⁰⁶Or, return converted unto thee.

51: 14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation; And my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
51: 15 ³⁰⁷O Jehovah, open thou my lips; And my mouth shall show forth thy praise.
³⁰⁷Sopherim changed to O Lord,

51: 16 For thou delightest not in sacrifice; ³⁰⁸else would I give it: Thou hast no pleasure in burnt-offering.
³⁰⁸Or, that I should give it:

51: 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: A broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
51: 18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: Build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
51: 19 Then wilt thou delight in the sacrifices of righteousness, In burnt-offering and whole burnt-offering: Then will they offer bullocks upon thine altar.