Psalm 51

HCSB

Psalm 51

A Prayer for Restoration

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1} For the choir director. A Davidic psalm, when Nathan the prophet came to him after he had gone to Bathsheba.^(A)

Be gracious to me, God,
according to Your faithful love;
according to Your abundant compassion,
blot out my rebellion.^(B)

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2}

Wash away my guilt
and cleanse me from my sin.^(C)

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3}

For I am conscious of my rebellion,
and my sin is always before me.^(D)

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4}

Against You—You alone—I have sinned
and done this evil in Your sight.^(E)
So You are right when You pass sentence;
You are blameless when You judge.^(F)

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5}

Indeed, I was guilty when I was born;
I was sinful when my mother conceived me.^(G)

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6}

Surely You desire integrity in the inner self,
and You teach me wisdom deep within.^(H)

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7}

Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.^(I)

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8}

Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones You have crushed rejoice.^(J)

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9}

Turn Your face away^(a) from my sins
and blot out all my guilt.^(K)

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10}

God, create a clean heart for me
and renew a steadfast^(b) spirit within me.^(L)

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11}

Do not banish me from Your presence
or take Your Holy Spirit from me.^(M)

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12}

Restore the joy of Your salvation to me,
and give me a willing spirit.^(c)^(N)

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13}

Then I will teach the rebellious Your ways,
and sinners will return to You.^(O)

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14}

Save me from the guilt of bloodshed, God,^(P)
the God of my salvation,
and my tongue will sing of Your righteousness.^(Q)

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15}

Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare Your praise.^(R)

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16}

You do not want a sacrifice, or I would give it;
You are not pleased with a burnt offering.^(S)

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17}

The sacrifice pleasing to God is^(d) a broken spirit.
God, You will not despise a broken and humbled heart.^(T)

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18}

In Your good pleasure, cause Zion to prosper;
build^(e) the walls of Jerusalem.^(U)

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19}

Then You will delight in righteous sacrifices,
whole burnt offerings;
then bulls will be offered on Your altar.^(V)

Footnotes:

a. Psalm 51:9: Lit Hide Your face

b. Psalm 51:10: Or right

c. Psalm 51:12: Or and sustain me with a noble spirit

d. Psalm 51:17: Lit The sacrifices of God are

e. Psalm 51:18: Or rebuild

Cross references:

B. Psalm 51:1: Isaiah 43:25; Acts 3:19

C. Psalm 51:2: Isaiah 1:16; Jeremiah 33:8; 1 John 1:7; 1 John 1:9

D. Psalm 51:3: Psalm 32:5; Proverbs 28:13; Isaiah 59:12

E. Psalm 51:4: Psalm 41:4

F. Psalm 51:4: Romans 3:4

G. Psalm 51:5: Job 15:14; Psalm 58:3; Romans 5:12-13

H. Psalm 51:6: Job 38:36; Proverbs 2:6; Ecclesiastes 2:26

I. Psalm 51:7: Leviticus 14:4; Leviticus 14:49; Numbers 19:18; Isaiah 1:18

J. Psalm 51:8: Psalm 35:10; Isaiah 38:13

K. Psalm 51:9: Jeremiah 16:17

L. Psalm 51:10: Psalm 24:4; Matthew 5:8

M. Psalm 51:11: Isaiah 63:10-11; Jeremiah 7:15

N. Psalm 51:12: Psalm 13:5

O. Psalm 51:13: Exodus 33:13; Psalm 25:4; Jeremiah 2:33

P. Psalm 51:14: Psalm 26:9

Q. Psalm 51:14: Psalm 35:28; Psalm 71:15

R. Psalm 51:15: Exodus 4:15; Psalm 9:14

S. Psalm 51:16: Psalm 40:6

T. Psalm 51:17: Psalm 34:18

U. Psalm 51:18: Psalm 69:35; Psalm 102:16; Psalm 147:2

V. Psalm 51:19: Psalm 4:5; Psalm 66:13; Psalm 66:15; Malachi 3:3