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Psalm 51

Vers 1

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

Vers 2

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

Vers 3

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

Vers 4

Behold, I in iniquity
was form’d the womb within;
My mother also me conceiv’d
in guiltiness and sin.

Vers 5

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

Vers 6

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

Vers 7

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

Vers 8

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

Vers 9

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

Vers 10

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

Vers 11

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

Vers 12

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

Vers 13

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

Vers 14

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

Vers 15

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

Vers 16

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.
About this psalm

Psalm 51 is a psalm of David and belongs to Book II (Psalm 42–72) of the Psalter. Penitential psalm: The seven traditional penitential psalms of the church.

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