Skip to content

Psalm 51

First CM/CMD · 8·6·8·6 (D)

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

1 Have mercy upon me, O God,

in thy lovingkindness:

in multitude of thy mercies

blot out my trespasses.

2 From mine iniquity do thou

wash me most perfectly,

and also from this sin of mine

do thou me purify.

3 Because of my transgressions

myself do take notice,

and sin that I committed have

before me ever is.

4 ‘Gainst thee, thee only I have sinn’d,

this ill done thee before:

when thou speak’st just thou art, and clear

when thou dost judge therefore.

5 Behold, how in iniquity

I did my shape receive:

also my mother that me bare

in sin did me conceive.

6 Behold, thou dost desire the truth

within the inward part:

and thou shalt make me wisdom know

in secret of my heart.

7 With hyssop do me purify,

I shall be cleansed so:

do thou me wash, and then I shall

be whiter than the snow.

8 Of joy and of gladness do thou

make me to hear the voice:

that so the bones which thou hast broke

may cheerfully rejoice.

9 From the beholding of my sin

hide thou away thy face:

also all mine iniquities

do utterly deface.

10 A clean heart, Lord, in me create,

also a spirit right

11 in me renew. O cast not me

away out of thy sight;

nor from me take thy holy sp’rit.

12 Restore the joy to me

of thy salvation, and uphold

me with thy spirit free.

13 Then will I teach thy ways to those

that work iniquity:

and by this means shall sinners be

converted unto thee.

14 O God, God of my health, set me

free from blood guiltiness,

and so my tongue shall joyfully

sing of thy righteousness.

15 O Lord my stay, let thou my lips

by thee be opened,

and by my mouth thy praises shall

be openly showed.

16 For thou desir’st not sacrifice,

it would I freely bring:

neither dost thou contentment take

in a whole burnt off’ring.

17 The sacrifices of the Lord

they are a broken sp’rit:

God, thou wilt not despise a heart

that’s broken, and contrite.

18 In thy good pleasure O do thou

do good to Zion hill:

the walls of thy Jerusalem

O do thou build up still.

19 The sacrifice of justice shall

please thee, with burnt off’ring,

and whole burnt off’ring; then they shall

calves to thine altar bring.