Psalms

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

1Have mercy on me, God, because Your love never fails. You are full of kindness, so wipe away the wrongs I have done.

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

2Wash me completely clean from the wrong in me. Make me clean from my sin.

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

3I admit the wrongs I have done. My sin is always right there in front of me.

4Against 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.

4I sinned against You, against You alone. I did what You call evil, right where You could see it. So You are right in what You say, and fair when You judge.

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

5The truth is, I have been sinful from the very start. I was sinful from the moment my mother carried me.

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

6The truth is, You want honesty deep inside a person. Deep inside me, You teach me to be wise.

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

7Wash my sin away with hyssop, and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

NoteHyssop is a small leafy plant. It was dipped in water or blood and used to sprinkle a person or thing in ceremonies that made them clean.

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

8Let me hear happy sounds and gladness again. You have crushed my bones; let them be glad again.

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

9Turn Your face away from my sins. Wipe out every wrong thing I have done.

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

10Make a clean heart inside me, God. Put a right spirit in me again.

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

11Do not push me away from where You are. Do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

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

12Give me back the joy of being saved by You. Hold me up with a willing spirit.

Note"Free spirit" in the KJV does not mean a carefree person. It means a spirit that is willing and ready to obey.

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

13Then I will teach Your ways to people who do wrong, and sinners will turn back to You.

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

14God, save me from the guilt of blood I have shed. You are the God who saves me. Then my tongue will sing out loud about how right You are.

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

15Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will tell how great You are.

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

16You do not want an animal offering, or I would bring one. Offerings burned on the altar do not make You glad.

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

17The offering God wants is a broken spirit. God, You will not turn away a heart that is broken and truly sorry.

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

18Be good to Zion, because that is what pleases You. Build up the walls of Jerusalem.

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

19Then You will be pleased with right offerings, with offerings burned whole on the altar. Then bulls will be offered on Your altar.