1 H ave mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions.

O God, favor me because of Your loving-kindness. Take away my wrong-doing because of the greatness of Your loving-pity.

2 W ash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.

Wash me inside and out from my wrong-doing and make me clean from my sin.

3 F or I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me.

For I know my wrong-doing, and my sin is always in front of me.

4 A gainst You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight— That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge.

I have sinned against You, and You only. I have done what is sinful in Your eyes. You are always right when You speak, and fair when You judge.

5 B ehold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.

See, I was born in sin and was in sin from my very beginning.

6 B ehold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.

See, You want truth deep within the heart. And You will make me know wisdom in the hidden part.

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

Take away my sin, and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

8 M ake me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice.

Make me hear joy and happiness. Let the bones that You have broken be full of joy.

9 H ide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities.

Hide Your face from my sins. And take away all my wrong-doing.

10 C reate in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Make a clean heart in me, O God. Give me a new spirit that will not be moved.

11 D o not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

Do not throw me away from where You are. And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

12 R estore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.

Let the joy of Your saving power return to me. And give me a willing spirit to obey you.

13 T hen I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You.

Then I will teach wrong-doers Your ways. And sinners will turn to You.

14 D eliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, The God of my salvation, And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.

Save me from the guilt of blood, O God. You are the God Who saves me. Then my tongue will sing with joy about how right and good You are.

15 O Lord, open my lips, And my mouth shall show forth Your praise.

O Lord, open my lips, so my mouth will praise You.

16 F or You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering.

For You are not happy with a gift given on the altar in worship, or I would give it. You are not pleased with burnt gifts.

17 T he sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart— These, O God, You will not despise.

The gifts on an altar that God wants are a broken spirit. O God, You will not hate a broken heart and a heart with no pride.

18 D o good in Your good pleasure to Zion; Build the walls of Jerusalem.

Be pleased to do good to Zion. Build the walls of Jerusalem.

19 T hen You shall be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, With burnt offering and whole burnt offering; Then they shall offer bulls on Your altar.

Then You will be happy with gifts given on the altar that are right and good, with burnt gifts and whole burnt gifts. Then young bulls will be given on Your altar.