51 For the musical director: a song by David from when the prophet Natan had gone to him after David had committed adultery with Bat-Sheva.

51 Have mercy on me, God, because of your loyal commitment.

≈Blot out my disobedience, because you’re so merciful.

2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity

≈and make me clean from my sin

3 because I’m aware of my transgressions,

≈and my sin is always on my mind.

4 It’s you and only you that I’ve sinned against,

≈and done what’s evil in your sight.

You are right when you speak.

≈You are correct when you judge.

5 Yes, I was born in iniquity.

≈As soon as my mother conceived me, I was in sin.

6 You desire integrity in my inner self,

≈and you teach me wisdom in the secret place within.

7 Purify me with blood (applied to the doorway with a sprig of hyssop), and I’ll be clean.

≈Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

8 Let me hear joy and gladness

→so that the bones that you’ve broken can be happy again.

9 Look away from my sins

≈and blot out all my iniquities.

10 Create a clean heart in me, God,

≈and renew an unwwavering spirit within me.

11 Don’t drive me away from your presence,

≈and don’t take your holy spirit away from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,

≈and sustain me with a willing spirit.

13 Then I’ll teach other transgressors your ways,

≈and sinners will be converted to you.

14 God of my salvation, forgive me for shedding blood,

→and I’ll happily shout about how good and righteous you are.

15 Open my lips, my master,

≈and my mouth will express praise to you

16 because a sacrifice wouldn’t make you happy or I would give it.

≈You get no pleasure from burnt offerings.

17 The sacrifices that God wants are a broken spirit—

≈a humbled and repentant heart won’t be despised by you, God.

18 Express your pleasure at Tsiyyon (Zion) by doing good to us.

Rebuild Yerushalem’s walls.

19 Then you’ll delight in the sacrifices of righteousness,

in burnt offerings and completely burnt offerings.

Then our people will offer bulls on your altar.