| NET Bible | English Standard Version |
| 1For the music director; a psalm of David, written when Nathan the prophet confronted him after David's affair with Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, because of your loyal love! Because of your great compassion, wipe away my rebellious acts! | 1Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. |
| 2Wash away my wrongdoing! Cleanse me of my sin! | 2Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! |
| 3For I am aware of my rebellious acts; I am forever conscious of my sin. | 3For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. |
| 4Against you--you above all--I have sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. So you are just when you confront me; you are right when you condemn me. | 4Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. |
| 5Look, I was guilty of sin from birth, a sinner the moment my mother conceived me. | 5Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. |
| 6Look, you desire integrity in the inner man; you want me to possess wisdom. | 6Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. |
| 7Sprinkle me with water and I will be pure; wash me and I will be whiter than snow. | 7Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. |
| 8Grant me the ultimate joy of being forgiven! May the bones you crushed rejoice! | 8Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. |
| 9Hide your face from my sins! Wipe away all my guilt! | 9Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. |
| 10Create for me a pure heart, O God! Renew a resolute spirit within me! | 10Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. |
| 11Do not reject me! Do not take your Holy Spirit away from me! | 11Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. |
| 12Let me again experience the joy of your deliverance! Sustain me by giving me the desire to obey! | 12Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. |
| 13Then I will teach rebels your merciful ways, and sinners will turn to you. | 13Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you. |
| 14Rescue me from the guilt of murder, O God, the God who delivers me! Then my tongue will shout for joy because of your deliverance. | 14Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. |
| 15O Lord, give me the words! Then my mouth will praise you. | 15O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. |
| 16Certainly you do not want a sacrifice, or else I would offer it; you do not desire a burnt sacrifice. | 16For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. |
| 17The sacrifices God desires are a humble spirit--O God, a humble and repentant heart you will not reject. | 17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. |
| 18Because you favor Zion, do what is good for her! Fortify the walls of Jerusalem! | 18Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; build up the walls of Jerusalem; |
| 19Then you will accept the proper sacrifices, burnt sacrifices and whole offerings; then bulls will be sacrificed on your altar. | 19then will you delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar. |
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