Psalms 51

DOUAI-RHEIMS	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Unto the end, a psalm of David,	1 Unto the end. The understanding of David.
2 when Nathan the prophet came to him after he had sinned with Bethsabee.	2 When Doeg the Edomite came and reported to Saul, David went to the house of Ahimelech.
3 Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy great mercy. And according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my iniquity.	3 Why do you glory in malice, you who are powerful in iniquity?
4 Wash me yet more from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.	4 All day long your tongue thinks up injustice. Like a sharp razor, you have wrought deceit.
5 For I know my iniquity, and my sin is always before me.	5 You have loved malice above goodness, and iniquity more than speaking righteousness.
6 To thee only have I sinned, and have done evil before thee: that thou mayst be justified in thy words and mayst overcome when thou art judged.	6 You have loved all precipitous words, you deceitful tongue.
7 For behold I was conceived in iniquities; and in sins did my mother conceive me.	7 Because of this, God will destroy you in the end. He will pull you up, and he will remove you from your tabernacle and your root from the land of the living.
8 For behold thou hast loved truth: the uncertain and hidden things of thy wisdom thou hast made manifest to me.	8 The just will see and be afraid, and they will laugh over him, and say:
9 Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be cleansed: thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow.	9 “Behold the man who did not set God as his helper. But he hoped in the multitude of his riches, and so he prevailed in his emptiness.”
10 To my hearing thou shalt give joy and gladness: and the bones that have been humbled shall rejoice.	10 But I, like a fruitful olive tree in the house of God, have hoped in the mercy of God unto eternity, and forever and ever.
11 Turn away thy face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.	11 I will confess to you forever, because you have accomplished it. And I will wait on your name, for it is good in the sight of your saints.
12 Create a clean heart in me, O God: and renew a right spirit within my bowels.
13 Cast me not away from thy face; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
14 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and strengthen me with a perfect spirit.
15 I will teach the unjust thy ways: and the wicked shall be converted to thee.
16 Deliver me from blood, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall extol thy justice.
17 O Lord, thou wilt open my lips: and my mouth shall declare thy praise.
18 For if thou hadst desired sacrifice, I would indeed have given it: with burnt offerings thou wilt not be delighted.
19 A sacrifice to God is an afflicted spirit: a contrite and humbled heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
20 Deal favourably, O Lord, in thy good will with Sion; that the walls of Jerusalem may be built up.
21 Then shalt thou accept the sacrifice of justice, oblations and whole burnt offerings: then shall they lay calves upon thy altar.