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Psalms 51

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1Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: According to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

2Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.

3For I know my transgressions; And my sin is ever before me.

4Against 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 clear when thou judgest.

5Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity; And in sin did my mother conceive me.

6Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts; And in the hidden part thou wilt make me to know wisdom.

7Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

8Make me to hear joy and gladness, That the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

9Hide thy face from my sins, And blot out all mine iniquities.

10Create in me a clean heart, O God; And renew a right spirit within me.

11Cast me not away from thy presence; And take not thy holy Spirit from me.

12Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; And uphold me with a willing spirit.

13Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; And sinners shall be converted unto thee.

14Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation; Andmy tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

15O Lord, open thou my lips; And my mouth shall show forth thy praise.

16For thou delightest not in sacrifice; else would I give it: Thou hast no pleasure in burnt-offering.

17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: A broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

18Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: Build thou the walls of Jerusalem.

19Then wilt thou delight in the sacrifices of righteousness, In burnt-offering and whole burnt-offering: Then will they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

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Parallel translations · Psalms 51:1

WEB · World English Bible (2000)

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: According to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

KJV · King James Version (1611)

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

ASV · American Standard Version (1901)

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: According to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

BBE · Bible in Basic English (1949)

Have pity on me, O God, in your mercy; out of a full heart, take away my sin.

YLT · Young's Literal Translation (1862)

To the Overseer. --A Psalm of David, in the coming in unto him of Nathan the prophet, when he hath gone in unto Bath-Sheba. Favour me, O God, according to Thy kindness, According to the abundance of Thy mercies, Blot out my transgressions.

DRA · Douay-Rheims (Challoner) (1752)

Unto the end, understanding for David,

DBY · Darby Bible (1890)

Be gracious unto me, OGod, according to thy loving-kindness; according to the abundance of thy tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.

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Commentary · Psalms 51

A Broken and Contrite Heart

The penitential psalm of David, written after Nathan the prophet confronted him over his sin with Bathsheba. There is no excuse-making here, only naked confession: 'against thee, thee only, have I sinned.' David asks not merely for forgiveness but for a clean heart and a renewed spirit. He understands that God will not despise a broken and contrite heart — and that the only sacrifice God ultimately wants is a humbled life.

Themes

  • Confession
  • Repentance
  • Inward renewal
  • True worship

Application

God's gospel meets us not at our best, but at our most broken. Honest confession is the doorway to deep mercy.

Key cross-references

From the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — verses that illuminate Psalms 51:1.

  • Nehemiah 4:5

    and cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee; for they have provoked thee to anger before the builders.

  • Psalms 69:16

    Answer me, O Jehovah; for thy lovingkindness is good: According to the multitude of thy tender mercies turn thou unto me.

  • Isaiah 44:22

    I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.

  • Ephesians 1:6

    to the praise of the glory of his grace, which he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved:

  • Psalms 109:21

    But deal thou with me, O Jehovah the Lord, for thy name’s sake: Because thy lovingkindness is good, deliver thou me;

  • Psalms 5:7

    But as for me, in the abundance of thy lovingkindness will I come into thy house: In thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.

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Psalms 52

"Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? The lovingkindness of God endureth continually."