51:2 Wash away my wrongdoing! 1
Cleanse me of my sin! 2
51:3 For I am aware of 3 my rebellious acts;
I am forever conscious of my sin. 4
51:4 Against you – you above all 5 – I have sinned;
I have done what is evil in your sight.
So 6 you are just when you confront me; 7
you are right when you condemn me. 8
51:5 Look, I was guilty of sin from birth,
a sinner the moment my mother conceived me. 9
51:6 Look, 10 you desire 11 integrity in the inner man; 12
you want me to possess wisdom. 13
51:7 Sprinkle me 14 with water 15 and I will be pure; 16
wash me 17 and I will be whiter than snow. 18
51:8 Grant me the ultimate joy of being forgiven! 19
May the bones 20 you crushed rejoice! 21
51:9 Hide your face 22 from my sins!
Wipe away 23 all my guilt!
51:10 Create for me a pure heart, O God! 24
Renew a resolute spirit within me! 25
51:11 Do not reject me! 26
Do not take your Holy Spirit 27 away from me! 28
51:12 Let me again experience the joy of your deliverance!
Sustain me by giving me the desire to obey! 29
51:13 Then I will teach 30 rebels your merciful ways, 31
and sinners will turn 32 to you.
51:14 Rescue me from the guilt of murder, 33 O God, the God who delivers me!
Then my tongue will shout for joy because of your deliverance. 34
51:15 O Lord, give me the words! 35
Then my mouth will praise you. 36
51:16 Certainly 37 you do not want a sacrifice, or else I would offer it; 38
you do not desire a burnt sacrifice. 39
51:17 The sacrifices God desires are a humble spirit 40 –
O God, a humble and repentant heart 41 you will not reject. 42
51:18 Because you favor Zion, do what is good for her! 43
Fortify 44 the walls of Jerusalem! 45
51:19 Then you will accept 46 the proper sacrifices, burnt sacrifices and whole offerings;
then bulls will be sacrificed 47 on your altar. 48