51:1  HAVE MERCY upon me, O God, according to Your steadfast love; according to the multitude of Your tender mercy {and} loving-kindness blot out my transgressions.

51:2  Wash me thoroughly [and repeatedly] from my iniquity {and} guilt and cleanse me {and} make me wholly pure from my sin!

51:3  For I am conscious of my transgressions {and} I acknowledge them; my sin is ever before me.

51:4  Against You, You only, have I sinned and done that which is evil in Your sight, so that You are justified in Your sentence and faultless in Your judgment.

51:5  Behold, I was brought forth in [a state of] iniquity; my mother was sinful who conceived me [and I too am sinful].

51:6  Behold, You desire truth in the inner being; make me therefore to know wisdom in my inmost heart.

51:7  Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean [ceremonially]; wash me, and I shall [in reality] be whiter than snow.

51:8  Make me to hear joy and gladness {and} be satisfied; let the bones which You have broken rejoice.

51:9  Hide Your face from my sins and blot out all my guilt {and} iniquities.

51:10  Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right, persevering, {and} steadfast spirit within me.

51:11  Cast me not away from Your presence and take not Your Holy Spirit from me.

51:12  Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit.

51:13  Then will I teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners shall be converted {and} return to You.

51:14  Deliver me from bloodguiltiness {and} death, O God, the God of my salvation, {and} my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness (Your rightness and Your justice).

51:15  O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall show forth Your praise.

51:16  For You delight not in sacrifice, or else would I give it; You find no pleasure in burnt offering.

51:17  My sacrifice [the sacrifice acceptable] to God is a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart [broken down with sorrow for sin and humbly and thoroughly penitent], such, O God, You will not despise.

51:18  Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

51:19  Then will You delight in the sacrifices of righteousness, justice, {and} right, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering; then bullocks will be offered upon Your altar.