Psalms 51

51 ¹ Have mercy on me, my Father, according to your covenant love; according to your abundant compassion blot out my transgressions. ² Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. ³ For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. ⁴ Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. ⁵ I was born in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me. ⁶ Yet you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.

⁷ Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. ^a a v7 Hyssop was a small shrub used in Old Testament purification rituals — here a symbol of thorough cleansing. ⁸ Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have crushed rejoice. ⁹ Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.

¹⁰ Create in me a clean heart, my Father, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. ¹¹ Do not banish me from your presence, and do not take your Holy Spirit from me. ¹² Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

¹³ Then I will teach wrongdoers your ways, and sinners will return to you. ¹⁴ Deliver me from bloodguilt, my Father, the Father of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. ¹⁵ Sovereign Father, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.

¹⁶ For you do not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you take no pleasure in burnt offering. ¹⁷ The sacrifices of my Father are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, my Father, you will not despise.

¹⁸ Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; build up the walls of Jerusalem. ¹⁹ Then you will delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar.