Speed the player up or slow it down to help learn to play this. You may also print this as well.

Please also see below for the versification, the actual text and  typical congregational singing of this Psalm in English.

Available PDF files for download | Tab Only | Notation Only | Notation Tab & First Verse

Book of Praise Anglo Genevan Psalter 
https://www.bookofpraise.ca/

PSALM 51
A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.

Geneva, 1551

1. O gracious God, be merciful to me,
and in your love, your infinite compassion,
blot out my sins, remove all my transgressions.
O God, have mercy. Listen to my plea!
From every taint of evil wash me clean,
and from my guilt and misery relieve me.
For I am deeply conscious of my sin,
and all day long my misdeeds haunt and grieve me.

2. God, you have I offended, you alone.
In mercy hear my sorrowful confession.
How evil in your sight is my transgression!
You rightfully condemn what I have done;
just is, O God, the sentence I received.
I have from birth been guilty, ever sinning;
for in iniquity was I conceived,
tainted with sin right from my life’s beginning.

3. You teach me all the wisdom I must know,
for you want truth to dwell and rule within me.
Purge me with hyssop. Wash and fully clean me
till I am whiter than the whitest snow.
Let me hear shouts of happiness and joy,
and let the bones you crushed leap up in dances.
From my transgressions turn your face away.
Blot out my guilt, erase all my offences.

4. Create in me a pure, clean heart, I pray;
renew a steadfast spirit deep within me.
Give me new life to strengthen and sustain me;
God, from your presence cast me not away.
Show me your mercy. Do not take from me
your Holy Spirit, but again, O Saviour,
let me the joy of your salvation see,
and make me willing to obey you ever.

5. Then to transgressors I will teach your ways,
and sinners will return to seek your favour.
O God, from guilt of bloodshed me deliver;
then shall my tongue your saving justice praise.
I will aloud your righteousness proclaim;
you are, O God, the God of my salvation.
LORD, open then my lips to praise your name
and let me sing my songs of jubilation.

6. LORD, you do not in sacrifice delight,
or else I would with offerings try to please you.
How could I ever with my gifts appease you?
Burnt offerings find no favour in your sight.
One gift alone is pleasing in God’s eyes:
the contrite heart of one who has repented.
A broken spirit you will not despise
when humbly as a sacrifice presented.

7. In your good pleasure, bless Jerusalem;
cause her to thrive, and shield her with your power.
Build Zion’s walls, O God; uphold her towers,
safeguard her citadels and strengthen them.
Then you in sacrifices will delight,
in gifts of those whom you in Zion shelter;
burnt offerings will be pleasing in your sight.
Then will young bulls be offered on your altar.

ESV  Copied from https://www.esv.org/

Psalm 51
Create in Me a Clean Heart, O God
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.

1 Have mercy on me, O God,

according to your steadfast love;

according to your abundant mercy

blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,

and cleanse me from my sin!

3 For I know my transgressions,

and my sin is ever before me.

4 Against you, you only, have I sinned

and done what is evil in your sight,

so that you may be justified in your words

and blameless in your judgment.

5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,

and in sin did my mother conceive me.

6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being,

and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.

7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;

wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

8 Let me hear joy and gladness;

let the bones that you have broken rejoice.

9 Hide your face from my sins,

and blot out all my iniquities.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,

and renew a right spirit within me.

11 Cast me not away from your presence,

and take not your Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,

and uphold me with a willing spirit.

13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,

and sinners will return to you.

14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God,

O God of my salvation,

and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.

15 O Lord, open my lips,

and my mouth will declare your praise.

16 For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;

you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;

a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

18 Do good to Zion in your good pleasure;

build up the walls of Jerusalem;

19 then will you delight in right sacrifices,

in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings;

then bulls will be offered on your altar.

Typical Congregational Singing of Psalm 51 verse 1, 2, & 3 in English