Psalm 51
1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
1 Have mercy upon me, O God, after thy | great | goodness; ||
according to the multitude of thy | mercies • do a- | way • mine of- | fences. ||
2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
2 Wash me | throughly • from my | wicked•ness, ||
and | cleanse me | from my | sin. ||
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
3 For I ac- | 3 knowledge my | faults, ||
and my | sin is | 3 ever be- | fore me. ||
4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
4 Against thee only have I sinned, and done this | evil in • thy | sight; ||
that thou mightest be justified in thy | saying, • and | clear when • thou shalt | judge. ||
5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
5 Behold, I was | 3 shapen in | wicked•ness, ||
and in | sin • hath my | 3 mother con- | ceived me. ||
6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
6 But lo, thou requirest truth in the | inward | parts, ||
and shalt make me to | under•stand | wisdom | secret•ly. ||
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
7 Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and 3 I | shall be | clean; ||
thou shalt wash me, and 3 I | shall be | 3 whiter than | snow. ||
8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
8 Thou shalt make me hear of | joy and | gladness, ||
that the | bones which • thou hast | broken • may re- | joice. ||
9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
9 Turn thy | face • from my | sins, ||
and | put out | all • my mis- | deeds. ||
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
10 Make me a 3 clean | heart, O | God, ||
and re- | new a • right | 3 spirit with- | in me. ||
11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
11 Cast me not a- | 3 way from thy | presence, ||
and take not thy | holy | Spirit | from me. ||
12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
12 O give me the comfort of thy | help a- | gain, ||
and | stablish • me with | thy free | Spirit. ||
13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
13 Then shall I teach thy | ways un•to the | wicked, ||
and | sinners • shall | be con- | verted • unto thee. ||
14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
14 Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, * thou that art the | 3 God of my | health; ||
and my | tongue shall | 3 sing of thy | righteous•ness. ||
15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
15 Thou shalt open my | lips, O | Lord, ||
and my | mouth shall | show thy | praise. ||
16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
16 For thou desirest no sacrifice, | else • would I | give it • thee; ||
but thou de- | lightest | not in • burnt- | offer•ings. ||
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
17 The sacrifice of God is a | troubled | spirit: ||
a broken and contrite heart, O | God, • shalt thou | not de- | spise. ||
18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
18 O be favourable and | gracious • unto | Sion; ||
3 build | thou the | walls • of Je- | rusa•lem. ||
19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.
19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness, * with the burnt- | offerings • and ob- | lations; ||
then shall they offer young | 3 bullocks up- | on thine | altar. ||
About the Pointing
The text of the Coverdale Psalter follows the 1928 American Book of Common Prayer. The pointing, suitably adapted, is taken from Charles Macpherson, Edward C. Bairstow, and Percy C. Buck, The English Psalter (Novello & Co., 1925).