| King James Bible | NET Bible |
| 1To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. | 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! |
| 2Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. | 2Wash away my wrongdoing! Cleanse me of my sin! |
| 3For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. | 3For I am aware of my rebellious acts; I am forever conscious of my sin. |
| 4Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. | 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. |
| 5Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. | 5Look, I was guilty of sin from birth, a sinner the moment my mother conceived me. |
| 6Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. | 6Look, you desire integrity in the inner man; you want me to possess wisdom. |
| 7Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. | 7Sprinkle me with water and I will be pure; wash me and I will be whiter than snow. |
| 8Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. | 8Grant me the ultimate joy of being forgiven! May the bones you crushed rejoice! |
| 9Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. | 9Hide your face from my sins! Wipe away all my guilt! |
| 10Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. | 10Create for me a pure heart, O God! Renew a resolute spirit within me! |
| 11Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. | 11Do not reject me! Do not take your Holy Spirit away from me! |
| 12Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. | 12Let me again experience the joy of your deliverance! Sustain me by giving me the desire to obey! |
| 13Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. | 13Then I will teach rebels your merciful ways, and sinners will turn to you. |
| 14Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. | 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. |
| 15O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. | 15O Lord, give me the words! Then my mouth will praise you. |
| 16For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. | 16Certainly you do not want a sacrifice, or else I would offer it; you do not desire a burnt sacrifice. |
| 17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. | 17The sacrifices God desires are a humble spirit--O God, a humble and repentant heart you will not reject. |
| 18Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem. | 18Because you favor Zion, do what is good for her! Fortify the walls of Jerusalem! |
| 19Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar. | 19Then you will accept the proper sacrifices, burnt sacrifices and whole offerings; then bulls will be sacrificed on your altar. |
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