To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David,

For the conductor, a psalm of David.

when Natan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bat-sheva.

When Nathan the prophet came to him, after he [David] had come to Bathsheva.

Be gracious to me, O God, according to Thy steadfast love: according to the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

Be gracious to me, O G d, according to Your lovingkindness. In the abundance of Your mercies erase my offenses.

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

Cleanse me thoroughly from my transgression, and purify me from my sin.

For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

For I am [constantly] cognizant of [and grieved by] my offenses, and [therefore, it is as if] my sin is constantly before me.

Against Thee, Thee alone, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in Thy sight: so that Thou art justified in Thy sentence, and clear in Thy judgment.

To You alone did I sin, [wherefore it is in Your hand to forgive]; and [even] the evil [against Uriah], in Your eyes did I do it [i.e., it was evil only in terms of Your exhortation], [and I sinned only] so that You be found right in Your word [(that I would fail the trial I took upon me, viz. 26:2)], so that You be vindicated in Your judgment.

Behold, I was shaped in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

[How should I not sin] when I was created in transgression and my mother was warm with me in sin?

Behold, Thou desirest truth in the inward parts: therefore teach me wisdom in the inmost heart.

You desire truth in the reins, [and, in truth, I confess that I have sinned.] Inform me with wisdom in hiddenness [i.e., in my heart].

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Cleanse me with myrtle [(as one is cleansed from leprosy and from dead-body uncleanliness)], and I will be pure. Wash me and I will be whiter than snow.

Make me to hear joy and gladness: that the bones which Thou hast broken may rejoice.

Let me hear rejoicing and happiness [(forgiveness of sin)], and the bones that You have crushed [in Your wrath] will rejoice.

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

Hide Your face from my sins, and erase all my transgressions.

Create in me a clean heart, O God and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

A pure heart, create in me, O G d [(that I not stray again)], and a right spirit engender within me.

Cast me not away from Thy presence; and take not Thy holy spirit from me.

Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not divest me of Your holy spirit.

Restore to me the joy of Thy salvation; and uphold me with a willing spirit.

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation [(the Holy spirit, which left me)], and let a noble spirit sustain me.

Then I will teach transgressors Thy ways; and sinners shall return to Thee.

[Then] I will teach offenders Your ways and sinners will return to You [(if they see that You have forgiven me.)]

Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, Thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of Thy righteousness.

Save me from blood, O G d the G d of my salvation, [(that I not die by the sword for having killed Uriah)], and my mouth will sing Your praises.

O Lord, open my lips; and my mouth shall rehearse Thy praise.

O L rd, open my lips [(by forgiving me)] so that my mouth can speak Your praises.

For Thou desirest not sacrifice; or else I would give it: Thou delightest not in burnt offering.

For You do not desire a sacrifice [(a sin-offering is not brought for a witting transgression)], for [(if You did)], I would give it. You do not desire a burnt-offering.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise.

The sacrifices of G d are a broken spirit. A broken, crushed heart, O G d, You will not despise.

Do good in Thy favour to Żiyyon: build Thou the walls of Yerushalayim.

Favor Zion with Your will [(to build the Temple within it in the lifetime of my son Solomon)]; build the walls of Jerusalem.

Then shalt Thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon Thy altar.

Then You will desire sacrifices of righteousness [(and not sin-linked offerings)] — burnt-offerings and the [(completely)] consumed [(priestly meal-offering)]. Then will fatted calves ascend upon Your altar.