Psalms 51

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

1Be kind to me, God. You love me with a steady love. You are full of care for me. Please wipe away the wrong things I have done.

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

2Wash me all the way clean from my wrongdoing. Make me clean from my sin.

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

3I know the wrong things I have done. My sin is always there in my mind.

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, God, and only you. I did this evil thing right in front of you. So you are right in what you say. You are fair when you judge me.

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

5Look, I have been sinful from the very start. I was sinful even before I was born.

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

6Look, you want me to be honest deep inside. Deep inside is where you teach me what is wise.

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

7Clean me with hyssop, and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

NoteHyssop is a small leafy plant. People dipped it in water and sprinkled the water on someone to show they were clean again.

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

8Let me hear happy, glad sounds 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 away 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. Make my spirit new and right again.

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

11Do not send me away from you. Do not take your Holy Spirit away from me.

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

12Make me glad again that you save me. Hold me up with a willing spirit.

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. Those who sin 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.

14Save me from the guilt of killing, God. You are the God who saves me. Then my mouth will sing out loud that you are good and right.

Note"Bloodguiltiness" means being guilty because someone died by your doing.

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

15Lord, open my lips. Then 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 gift. If you did, I would bring one. Burnt offerings 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 gift God wants is a spirit that is broken. God, you will not turn away a broken, sorry heart.

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

18Be good to Zion, the hill city of your people, because you want to be. 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 glad about gifts given the right way. You will be glad about whole burnt offerings. Then bulls will be given on your altar.

NoteA burnt offering was an animal given to God and burned on the altar, a stone table used for gifts to God.