Psalms 51

A Prayer for Restoration

¹Be gracious to me, God,

according to Your faithful love;

according to Your abundant compassion,

blot out my rebellion.

²Wash away my guilt

and cleanse me from my sin.

³For I am conscious of my rebellion,

and my sin is always before me.

⁴Against You — You alone — I have sinned

and done this evil in Your sight.

So You are right when You pass sentence;

You are blameless when You judge.

⁵Indeed, I was guilty when I was born;

I was sinful when my mother conceived me.

⁶Surely You desire integrity in the inner self,

and You teach me wisdom deep within.

⁷Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean;

wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

⁸Let me hear joy and gladness;

let the bones You have crushed rejoice.

⁹Turn Your face away from my sins[#Lit Hide Your face]

and blot out all my guilt.

¹⁰God, create a clean heart for me

and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

¹¹Do not banish me from Your presence

or take Your Holy Spirit from me.

¹²Restore the joy of Your salvation to me,

and give me a willing spirit.

¹³Then I will teach the rebellious Your ways,

and sinners will return to You.

¹⁴Save me from the guilt of bloodshed, God,[#Ps 26:9]

the God of my salvation,

and my tongue will sing of Your righteousness.

¹⁵Lord, open my lips,

and my mouth will declare Your praise.

¹⁶You do not want a sacrifice, or I would give it;

You are not pleased with a burnt offering.

¹⁷The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit.[#Lit The sacrifices of God are]

God, You will not despise a broken and humbled heart.

¹⁸In Your good pleasure, cause Zion to prosper;

build the walls of Jerusalem.

¹⁹Then You will delight in righteous sacrifices,

whole burnt offerings;

then bulls will be offered on Your altar.