Psalms 51

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[1]David prayeth for remission of his sins, whereof he maketh a deep confession: [16]he prayeth God to sanctify him. [16]God delighteth not in sacrifice, but in contrition of heart: [18]David prayeth for the welfare of the church.

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bath-sheba.

1. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

2. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

3. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

4. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

5. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

6. Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

7. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

8. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

9. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

10. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

11. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

12. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

13. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

14. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

15. O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.

16. For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.

17. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

18. Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.

19. Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

Metrical version

Psalm 51

C.M. Dundee, Walsall, St. Mary

After thy loving-kindness, Lord,
have mercy upon me:
For thy compassions great, blot out
all mine iniquity.

Me cleanse from sin, and throughly wash
from mine iniquity:
For my transgressions I confess;
my sin I ever see.

'Gainst thee, thee only, have I sinned,
in thy sight done this ill;
That when thou speak'st thou may'st be just,
and clear in judging still.

Behold, I in iniquity
was formed the womb within;
My mother also me conceived
in guiltiness and sin.

Behold, thou in the inward parts
with truth delighted art;
And wisdom thou shalt make me know
within the hidden part.

Do thou with hyssop sprinkle me,
I shall be cleansed so;
Yea, wash thou me, and then I shall
be whiter than the snow.

Of gladness and of joyfulness
make me to hear the voice;
That so these very bones which thou
hast broken may rejoice.

All mine iniquities blot out,
thy face hide from my sin.
Create a clean heart, Lord, renew
a right spirit me within.

Cast me not from thy sight, nor take
thy Holy Spirit away.
Restore me thy salvation's joy;
with thy free Spirit me stay.

Then will I teach thy ways unto
those that transgressors be;
And those that sinners are shall then
be turned unto thee.

O God, of my salvation God,
me from blood-guiltiness
Set free; then shall my tongue aloud
sing of thy righteousness.

My closed lips, O Lord, by thee
let them be opened;
Then shall thy praises by my mouth
abroad be published.

For thou desir'st not sacrifice,
else would I give it thee;
Nor wilt thou with burnt-offering
at all delighted be.

A broken spirit is to God
a pleasing sacrifice:
A broken and a contrite heart,
Lord, thou wilt not despise.

Show kindness, and do good, O Lord,
to Zion, thine own hill:
The walls of thy Jerusalem
build up of thy good will.

Then righteous off'rings shall thee please,
and off'rings burnt, which they
With whole burnt-off'rings, and with calves,
shall on thine altar lay.