Psalm 51

A Prayer for Restoration

For the choir director. A psalm of David, when the prophet Nathan came to him after he had gone to Bathsheba. ^a

¹Be gracious to me, God,

according to your faithful love;

according to your abundant compassion,

blot out my rebellion. ^b

²Completely wash away my guilt

and cleanse me from my sin. ^c

³For I am conscious of my rebellion,

and my sin is always before me. ^d

⁴Against you #— #you alone #— #I have sinned

and done this evil in your sight. ^e

So you are right when you pass sentence;

you are blameless when you judge. ^f

⁵Indeed, I was guilty when I was born;

I was sinful when my mother conceived me. ^g

⁶Surely you desire integrity in the inner self,

and you teach me wisdom deep within. ^h

⁷Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean;

wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. ⁱ

⁸Let me hear joy and gladness;

let the bones you have crushed rejoice. ^j

⁹Turn your face away ^k from my sins

and blot out all my guilt. ^l

¹⁰God, create a clean heart for me

and renew a steadfast ^m spirit within me. ⁿ

¹¹Do not banish me from your presence

or take your Holy Spirit from me. ^o

¹²Restore the joy of your salvation to me,

and sustain me by giving me a willing spirit. ^p

¹³Then I will teach the rebellious your ways,

and sinners will return to you. ^q

¹⁴Save me from the guilt of bloodshed, God ^r —

God of my salvation —

and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. ^s

¹⁵Lord, open my lips,

and my mouth will declare your praise. ^t

¹⁶You do not want a sacrifice, or I would give it;

you are not pleased with a burnt offering. ^u

¹⁷The sacrifice pleasing to God is ^v a broken spirit.

You will not despise a broken and humbled heart, God. ^w

¹⁸In your good pleasure, cause Zion to prosper;

build the walls of Jerusalem. ^x

¹⁹Then you will delight in righteous sacrifices,

whole burnt offerings;

then bulls will be offered on your altar. ^y