Psalm 51 [Douay 50]

Psalm 51 in modern numbering

¹ Have mercy on me, God, according to your loving kindness. According to the multitude of your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.

² Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity. Cleanse me from my sin.

³ For I know my transgressions. My sin is constantly before me.

⁴ Against you, and you only, I have sinned, and done that which is evil in your sight, so you may be proved right when you speak, and justified when you judge.

⁵ Behold, I was born in iniquity. My mother conceived me in sin.

⁶ Behold, you desire truth in the inward parts. You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

⁷ Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

⁸ Let me hear joy and gladness, that the bones which you have broken may rejoice.

⁹ Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all of my iniquities.

¹⁰ Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.

¹¹ Don’t throw me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.

¹² Restore to me the joy of your salvation. Uphold me with a willing spirit.

¹³ Then I will teach transgressors your ways. Sinners will be converted to you.

¹⁴ Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, the God of my salvation. My tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.

¹⁵ Lord, open my lips. My mouth will declare your praise.

¹⁶ For you don’t delight in sacrifice, or else I would give it. You have no pleasure in burnt offering.

¹⁷ The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. O God, you will not despise a broken and contrite heart.

¹⁸ Do well in your good pleasure to Zion. Build the walls of Jerusalem.

¹⁹ Then you will delight in the sacrifices of righteousness, in burnt offerings and in whole burnt offerings. Then they will offer bulls on your altar.

¹ UUnto the end, a psalm of David,

² When Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had sinned with Bethsabee. [2 Kings 12.]

³ Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy great mercy. And according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my iniquity.

⁴ Wash me yet more from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

⁵ For I know my iniquity, and my sin is always before me.

⁶ To thee only have I sinned, and have done evil before thee: that thou mayst be justified in thy words, and mayst overcome when thou art judged.

⁷ For behold I was conceived in iniquities; and in sins did my mother conceive me.

⁸ For behold thou hast loved truth: the uncertain and hidden things of thy wisdom thou hast made manifest to me.

⁹ Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be cleansed: thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow.

¹⁰ To my hearing thou shalt give joy and gladness: and the bones that have been humbled shall rejoice.

¹¹ Turn away thy face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.

¹² Create a clean heart in me, O God: and renew a right spirit within my bowels.

¹³ Cast me not away from thy face; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

¹⁴ Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and strengthen me with a perfect spirit.

¹⁵ I will teach the unjust thy ways: and the wicked shall be converted to thee.

¹⁶ Deliver me from blood, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall extol thy justice.

¹⁷ O Lord, thou wilt open my lips: and my mouth shall declare thy praise.

¹⁸ For if thou hadst desired sacrifice, I would indeed have given it: with burnt offerings thou wilt not be delighted.

¹⁹ A sacrifice to God is an afflicted spirit: a contrite and humbled heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

²⁰ Deal favourably, O Lord, in thy good will with Sion; that the walls of Jerusalem may be built up.

²¹ Then shalt thou accept the sacrifice of justice, oblations and whole burnt offerings: then shall they lay calves upon thy altar.