To the director. A melody of David, when Nathan the prophet came in to him after David had relations with Bath-sheʹba.
51 Show me favor, O Yahavah {Yah'-ha-vah'}, according to your loyal love.
Blot out my transgressions according to your great mercy.
2 Thoroughly wash me from my error,
And cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I am well-aware of my transgressions,
And my sin is always before me.
4 Against you—you above all—I have sinned;
What is bad in your eyes I have done.
Therefore, you are righteous when you speak,
You are right in your judgment.
5 Look! I was born guilty of error,
And my mother conceived me in sin.
6 Look! You find pleasure in truth in the inner person;
Teach my innermost self true wisdom.
7 Purify me from my sin with hyssop, so that I will be clean;
Wash me, so that I will be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear sounds of joy and rejoicing,
So that the bones you crushed will rejoice.
9 Turn your face away from my sins,
10 Create in me a pure heart, O Yahavah {Yah'-ha-vah'},
And put within me a new spirit, a steadfast one.
11 Do not cast me out from your presence;
And do not take your sacred spirit away from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation;
Stir within me a willingness to obey you.
13 I will teach transgressors your ways,
So that sinners will return to you.
14 Save me from bloodguilt, O Yahavah {Yah'-ha-vah'}, the Yahavah {Yah'-ha-vah'} of my salvation,
So that my tongue may joyfully declare your righteousness.
15 O Ahv'ah {Heb. Yahvah}, open my lips,
So that my mouth may declare your praise.
16 For you do not want a sacrifice—otherwise I would give it;
You do not find delight in a whole burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices pleasing to Yahavah {Yah'-ha-vah'} are a broken spirit;
A heart broken and crushed, O Yahavah {Yah'-ha-vah'}, you will not reject.
18 In your goodwill do what is good for Zion;
Build up the walls of Yerushalom.
19 Then you will take delight in the sacrifices of righteousness,
The burnt sacrifices and the whole offerings;
Then bulls will be offered up on your altar.