The Bible Study
with guest
Rev. Richard Moore of St. Martins Lutheran Church in Winona, Minnesota.
Psalm 51
Psalm 51[a]
For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.
1Â Have mercy on me, O God,
    according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
    blot out my transgressions.
2Â Wash away all my iniquity
    and cleanse me from my sin.
3Â For I know my transgressions,
    and my sin is always before me.
4Â Against 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.
5Â Surely I was sinful at birth,
    sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
6Â Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
    you taught me wisdom in that secret place.
7Â Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
    wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8Â Let me hear joy and gladness;
    let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
9Â Hide your face from my sins
    and blot out all my iniquity.
10Â Create in me a pure heart, O God,
    and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11Â Do not cast me from your presence
    or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12Â Restore to me the joy of your salvation
    and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
13Â Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
    so that sinners will turn back to you.
14Â Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
    you who are God my Savior,
    and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
15Â Open my lips, Lord,
    and my mouth will declare your praise.
16Â You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
    you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
17Â My sacrifice, O God, is[b] a broken spirit;
    a broken and contrite heart
    you, God, will not despise.
18Â May it please you to prosper Zion,
    to build up the walls of Jerusalem.
19Â Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous,
    in burnt offerings offered whole;
    then bulls will be offered on your altar.
Footnotes:
- Psalm 51:1 In Hebrew texts 51:1-19 is numbered 51:3-21.
- Psalm 51:17 Or The sacrifices of God are