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Psalm 51 in Hebrew and English

21 verses, about 2 minutes to read aloud. The Hebrew has its vowel points and the English stands under each verse.

The text of the psalm

לַמְנַצֵּחַ מִזְמוֹר לְדָוִֽד׃

For the Leader. A Psalm of David;

בְּבוֹא־אֵלָיו נָתָן הַנָּבִיא כַּאֲשֶׁר־בָּא אֶל־בַּת־שָֽׁבַע׃

when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bath-sheba.

חָנֵּנִי אֱלֹהִים כְּחַסְדֶּךָ כְּרֹב רַחֲמֶיךָ מְחֵה פְשָׁעָֽי׃

Be gracious unto me, O God, according to Thy mercy; According to the multitude of Thy compassions blot out my transgressions.

הֶרֶב כַּבְּסֵנִי מֵעֲוֺנִי וּמֵחַטָּאתִי טַהֲרֵֽנִי׃

Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.

כִּי־פְשָׁעַי אֲנִי אֵדָע וְחַטָּאתִי נֶגְדִּי תָמִֽיד׃

For I know my transgressions; And my sin is ever before me.

לְךָ לְבַדְּךָ חָטָאתִי וְהָרַע בְּעֵינֶיךָ עָשִׂיתִי לְמַעַן תִּצְדַּק בְּדָבְרֶךָ תִּזְכֶּה בְשָׁפְטֶֽךָ׃

Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned, And done that which is evil in Thy sight; That Thou mayest be justified when Thou speakest, And be in the right when Thou judgest.

הֵן־בְּעָווֹן חוֹלָלְתִּי וּבְחֵטְא יֶחֱמַתְנִי אִמִּֽי׃

Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.

הֵן־אֱמֶת חָפַצְתָּ בַטֻּחוֹת וּבְסָתֻם חָכְמָה תוֹדִיעֵֽנִי׃

Behold, Thou desirest truth in the inward parts; make me, therefore, to know wisdom in mine inmost heart.

תְּחַטְּאֵנִי בְאֵזוֹב וְאֶטְהָר תְּכַבְּסֵנִי וּמִשֶּׁלֶג אַלְבִּֽין׃

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

תַּשְׁמִיעֵנִי שָׂשׂוֹן וְשִׂמְחָה תָּגֵלְנָה עֲצָמוֹת דִּכִּֽיתָ׃

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

הַסְתֵּר פָּנֶיךָ מֵחֲטָאָי וְכָל־עֲוֺנֹתַי מְחֵֽה׃

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

לֵב טָהוֹר בְּרָא־לִי אֱלֹהִים וְרוּחַ נָכוֹן חַדֵּשׁ בְּקִרְבִּֽי׃

Create me a clean heart, O God; and renew a stedfast spirit within me.

אַל־תַּשְׁלִיכֵנִי מִלְּפָנֶיךָ וְרוּחַ קָדְשְׁךָ אַל־תִּקַּח מִמֶּֽנִּי׃

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

הָשִׁיבָה לִּי שְׂשׂוֹן יִשְׁעֶךָ וְרוּחַ נְדִיבָה תִסְמְכֵֽנִי׃

Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation; and let a willing spirit uphold me.

אֲלַמְּדָה פֹשְׁעִים דְּרָכֶיךָ וְחַטָּאִים אֵלֶיךָ יָשֽׁוּבוּ׃

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

הַצִּילֵנִי מִדָּמִים אֱלֹהִים אֱלֹהֵי תְשׁוּעָתִי תְּרַנֵּן לְשׁוֹנִי צִדְקָתֶֽךָ׃

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

אֲדֹנָי שְׂפָתַי תִּפְתָּח וּפִי יַגִּיד תְּהִלָּתֶֽךָ׃

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

כִּי לֹא־תַחְפֹּץ זֶבַח וְאֶתֵּנָה עוֹלָה לֹא תִרְצֶֽה׃

For Thou delightest not in sacrifice, else would I give it; Thou hast no pleasure in burnt-offering.

זִבְחֵי אֱלֹהִים רוּחַ נִשְׁבָּרָה לֵב־נִשְׁבָּר וְנִדְכֶּה אֱלֹהִים לֹא תִבְזֶֽה׃

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

הֵיטִיבָה בִרְצוֹנְךָ אֶת־צִיּוֹן תִּבְנֶה חוֹמוֹת יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃

Do good in Thy favour unto Zion; build Thou the walls of Jerusalem.

אָז תַּחְפֹּץ זִבְחֵי־צֶדֶק עוֹלָה וְכָלִיל אָז יַעֲלוּ עַל־מִזְבַּחֲךָ פָרִֽים׃

Then wilt Thou delight in the sacrifices of righteousness, in burnt-offering and whole offering; Then will they offer bullocks upon Thine altar.

The Hebrew is the Leningrad Codex, compared with a second edition letter by letter. The English is the Jewish Publication Society translation of 1917, in the public domain.

Where this psalm is read

  • The second of the five books of Psalms
  • Read in the monthly cycle on day 9 of the Hebrew month
  • Read in the weekly cycle on Tuesday
  • Its heading names David
  • 21 verses, 153 words, about 2 minutes to read

Psalms that are read with this one

All 150 psalms and today's reading·Prayers by the time they are said

Questions about this psalm

How many verses does Psalm 51 have?

Psalm 51 has 21 verses and 153 words.

On which day is Psalm 51 read in the monthly and weekly cycles?

In the monthly cycle it is read on day 9 of the Hebrew month, and in the weekly cycle on Tuesday.

Whose name is in the heading of Psalm 51?

The heading names David.

How long does it take to read Psalm 51?

About 2 minutes, at a steady pace.