# Psalm 51 --- ## Create in Me a Clean Heart, O God ([[2_Samuel_12|2 Samuel 12.1–12]]) For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. When Nathan the prophet came to him after his adultery with Bathsheba. - 1 Have mercy on me, {Or "Be gracious to me" } O God, - according to Your loving devotion; - according to Your great compassion, - blot out my transgressions. - 2 Wash me clean of my iniquity - and cleanse me from my sin. - 3 For I know my transgressions, - and my sin is always before me. - 4 Against You, You only, have I sinned - and done what is evil in Your sight, - so that You may be proved right when You speak - and blameless when You judge. {LXX "and victorious when You judge" ; cited in [[Romans_03|Romans 3.4]]} - 5 Surely I was brought forth in iniquity; - I was sinful when my mother conceived me. - 6 Surely You desire truth in the inmost being; - 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; - let the bones You have crushed rejoice. - 9 Hide Your face from my sins - and blot out all my iniquities. - 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, - and renew a right spirit within me. - 11 Cast me not away from Your presence; - take not Your Holy Spirit from me. - 12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, - and sustain me with a willing spirit. - 13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, - and sinners will return to You. - 14 Deliver me from bloodguilt, O God, - the God of my salvation, - and my tongue will sing of Your righteousness. - 15 O Lord, open my lips, - and my mouth will declare Your praise. - 16 For You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; - You take no pleasure in burnt offerings. - 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; - a broken and a contrite heart, - O God, You will not despise. - 18 In Your good pleasure, cause Zion to prosper; - build up the walls of Jerusalem. - 19 Then You will delight in righteous sacrifices, - in whole burnt offerings; - then bulls will be offered on Your altar. --- - Previous chapter: [[Psalm_050]] - Next chapter: [[Psalm_052]] - TOC: [[TOC_Psalms]] --- The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible (https://bereanbible.com), BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub (https://biblehub.com), Discovery Bible (https://discoverybible.com), OpenBible.com (https://openbible.com), and the Berean Bible Translation Committee. This text of God's Word has been dedicated to the public domain (https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0). ---