NET Bible

Psalm 51

^51:1 Have mercy on me, O God, because of your loyal love. Because of your great compassion, wipe away my rebellious acts. ^51:2 Wash away my wrongdoing. Cleanse me of my sin. ^51:3 For I am aware of my rebellious acts; I am forever conscious of my sin. ^51:4 Against you—you above all —I have sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. So you are just when you confront me; you are right when you condemn me. ^51:5 Look, I was guilty of sin from birth, a sinner the moment my mother conceived me. ^51:6 Look, you desire integrity in the inner man; you want me to possess wisdom. ^51:7 Cleanse me with hyssop and I will be pure; wash me and I will be whiter than snow. ^51:8 Grant me the ultimate joy of being forgiven. May the bones you crushed rejoice. ^51:9 Hide your face from my sins. Wipe away all my guilt. ^51:10 Create for me a pure heart, O God. Renew a resolute spirit within me. ^51:11 Do not reject me. Do not take your Holy Spirit away from me. ^51:12 Let me again experience the joy of your deliverance. Sustain me by giving me the desire to obey. ^51:13 Then I will teach rebels your merciful ways, and sinners will turn to you. ^51:14 Rescue me from the guilt of murder, O God, the God who delivers me. Then my tongue will shout for joy because of your righteousness. ^51:15 O Lord, give me the words. Then my mouth will praise you. ^51:16 Certainly you do not want a sacrifice, or else I would offer it; you do not desire a burnt sacrifice. ^51:17 The sacrifice God desires is a humble spirit — O God, a humble and repentant heart you will not reject. ^51:18 Because you favor Zion, do what is good for her. Fortify the walls of Jerusalem. ^51:19 Then you will accept the proper sacrifices, burnt sacrifices and whole offerings; then bulls will be sacrificed on your altar.

^51:19 For the music director, a well-written song by David. It was written when Doeg the Edomite went and informed Saul: “David has arrived at the home of Ahimelech.”