1 H ave mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

Have mercy on me, God, according to your loving kindness. According to the multitude of your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.

2 W ash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity. Cleanse me from my sin.

3 F or I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

For I know my transgressions. My sin is constantly before me.

4 A gainst 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.

Against you, and you only, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in your sight; that you may be proved right when you speak, and justified when you judge.

5 B ehold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Behold, I was born in iniquity. In sin my mother conceived me.

6 B ehold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

Behold, you desire truth in the inward parts. You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

7 P urge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

8 M ake me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

Let me hear joy and gladness, That the bones which you have broken may rejoice.

9 H ide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all of my iniquities.

10 C reate in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.

11 C ast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

Don’t throw me from your presence, and don’t take your holy Spirit from me.

12 R estore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation. Uphold me with a willing spirit.

13 T hen will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

Then I will teach transgressors your ways. Sinners shall be converted to you.

14 D eliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, the God of my salvation. My tongue shall sing aloud of your righteousness.

15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.

Lord, open my lips. My mouth shall declare your praise.

16 F or thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.

For you don’t delight in sacrifice, or else I would give it. You have no pleasure in burnt offering.

17 T he sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

18 D o good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.

Do well in your good pleasure to Zion. Build the walls of Jerusalem.

19 T hen shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

Then you will delight in the sacrifices of righteousness, in burnt offerings and in whole burnt offerings. Then they will offer bulls on your altar.