Psalms 51; Psalms 52; Psalms 53

1 Have pity on me, O God, in keeping with your mercy. In keeping with your unlimited compassion, wipe out my rebellious acts.

2 Wash me thoroughly from my guilt, and cleanse me from my sin.

3 I admit that I am rebellious. My sin is always in front of me.

4 I have sinned against you, especially you. I have done what you consider evil. So you hand down justice when you speak, and you are blameless when you judge.

5 Indeed, I was born guilty. I was a sinner when my mother conceived me.

6 Yet, you desire truth and sincerity. Deep down inside me you teach me wisdom.

7 Purify me from sin with hyssop, and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

8 Let me hear [sounds of] joy and gladness. Let the bones that you have broken dance.

9 Hide your face from my sins, and wipe out all that I have done wrong.

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

11 Do not force me away from your presence, and do not take your Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore the joy of your salvation to me, and provide me with a spirit of willing obedience.

13 [Then] I will teach your ways to those who are rebellious, and sinners will return to you.

14 Rescue me from the guilt of murder, O God, my savior. Let my tongue sing joyfully about your righteousness!

15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will tell about your praise.

16 You are not happy with any sacrifice. Otherwise, I would offer one [to you]. You are not pleased with burnt offerings.

17 The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. O God, you do not despise a broken and sorrowful heart.

18 Favor Zion with your goodness. Rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

19 Then you will be pleased with sacrifices offered in the right spirit-- with burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings. Young bulls will be offered on your altar.

1 Why do you brag about the evil you've done, you hero? The mercy of God lasts all day long!

2 Your tongue makes up threats. It's like a sharp razor, you master of deceit.

3 You prefer evil to good. You prefer lying to speaking the truth. Selah

4 You love every destructive accusation, you deceitful tongue!

5 But God will ruin you forever. He will grab you and drag you out of your tent. He will pull your roots out of this world of the living. Selah

6 Righteous people will see [this] and be struck with fear. They will laugh at you and say,

7 "Look at this person who refused to make God his fortress! Instead, he trusted his great wealth and became strong through his greed."

8 But I am like a large olive tree in God's house. I trust the mercy of God forever and ever.

9 I will give thanks to you forever for what you have done. In the presence of your godly people, I will wait with hope in your good name.

1 Godless fools say in their hearts, "There is no God." They are corrupt. They do disgusting things. There is no one who does good things.

2 God looks down from heaven on Adam's descendants to see if there is anyone who acts wisely, if there is anyone who seeks help from God.

3 Everyone has fallen away. Together they have become rotten to the core. No one, not even one person, does good things.

4 Are all those troublemakers, those who devour my people as if they were devouring food, so ignorant that they do not call on God?

5 There they are--panic-stricken-- [but] there was no reason to panic, because God has scattered the bones of those who set up camp against you. You put them to shame. After all, God has rejected them.

6 If only salvation for Israel would come from Zion! When God restores the fortunes of his people, Jacob will rejoice. Israel will be glad.