| New International Version | NET Bible |
| 1For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion 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 away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. | 2Wash away my wrongdoing! Cleanse me of my sin! |
| 3For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. | 3For I am aware of my rebellious acts; I am forever conscious of my sin. |
| 4Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge. | 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. |
| 5Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. | 5Look, I was guilty of sin from birth, a sinner the moment my mother conceived me. |
| 6Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place. | 6Look, you desire integrity in the inner man; you want me to possess wisdom. |
| 7Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. | 7Sprinkle me with water and I will be pure; wash me and I will be whiter than snow. |
| 8Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. | 8Grant me the ultimate joy of being forgiven! May the bones you crushed rejoice! |
| 9Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. | 9Hide your face from my sins! Wipe away all my guilt! |
| 10Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. | 10Create for me a pure heart, O God! Renew a resolute spirit within me! |
| 11Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. | 11Do not reject me! Do not take your Holy Spirit away from me! |
| 12Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. | 12Let me again experience the joy of your deliverance! Sustain me by giving me the desire to obey! |
| 13Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you. | 13Then I will teach rebels your merciful ways, and sinners will turn to you. |
| 14Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, you who are God my Savior, and my tongue will sing of your 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. |
| 15Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise. | 15O Lord, give me the words! Then my mouth will praise you. |
| 16You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. | 16Certainly you do not want a sacrifice, or else I would offer it; you do not desire a burnt sacrifice. |
| 17My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise. | 17The sacrifices God desires are a humble spirit--O God, a humble and repentant heart you will not reject. |
| 18May it please you to prosper Zion, to build up the walls of Jerusalem. | 18Because you favor Zion, do what is good for her! Fortify the walls of Jerusalem! |
| 19Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous, in burnt offerings offered whole; then bulls will be offered on your 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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