Psalms 51
51
PSALM 51
Common Meter: 8,6,8,6
To the chief Musician,
A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone into Bathsheba.
1After thy loving-kindness, Lord,
have mercy upon me:
For thy compassions great, blot out
all mine iniquity.
2Me cleanse from sin, and throughly wash
from mine iniquity:
3For my transgressions I confess;
my sin I ever see.
4'Gainst thee, thee only, have I sinn'd,
in thy sight done this ill;
That when thou speak'st thou may'st be just,
and clear in judging still.
5Behold, I in iniquity
was form'd the womb within;
My mother also me conceiv'd
in guiltiness and sin.
6Behold, thou in the inward parts
with truth delighted art;
And wisdom thou shalt make me know
within the hidden part.
7Do thou with hyssop sprinkle me,
I shall be cleansed so;
Yea, wash thou me, and then I shall
be whiter than the snow.
8Of gladness and of joyfulness
make me to hear the voice;
That so these very bones which thou
hast broken may rejoice.
9All mine iniquities blot out,
thy face hide from my sin.
10Create a clean heart, Lord, renew
a right sp'rit me within.
11Cast me not from thy sight, nor take
thy Holy Sp'rit away.
12Restore me thy salvation's joy;
with thy free Sp'rit me stay.
13Then will I teach thy ways unto
those that transgressors be;
And those that sinners are shall then
be turned unto thee.
14O God, of my salvation God,
me from blood-guiltiness
Set free; then shall my tongue aloud
sing of thy righteousness.
15My closed lips, O Lord, by thee
let them be opened;
Then shall thy praises by my mouth
abroad be published.
16For thou desir'st not sacrifice,
else would I give it thee;
Nor wilt thou with burnt-offering
at all delighted be.
17A broken spirit is to God
a pleasing sacrifice:
A broken and a contrite heart,
Lord, thou wilt not despise.
18Shew kindness, and do good, O Lord,
to Sion, thine own hill:
The walls of thy Jerusalem
build up of thy good will.
19Then righteous off 'rings shall thee please,
and off 'rings burnt, which they
With whole burnt-off 'rings,
and with calves, shall on thine altar lay.
Currently Selected:
Psalms 51: MP1650
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society
Psalms 51
51
The Miserere: Prayer of Repentance
1For the leader. A psalm of David, 2when Nathan the prophet came to him after he had gone in to Bathsheba.#2 Sm 12.
I
3Have mercy on me, God, in accord with your merciful love;
in your abundant compassion blot out my transgressions.
4Thoroughly wash away my guilt;
and from my sin cleanse me.
5For I know my transgressions;
my sin is always before me.#Ps 32:5; 38:19; Is 59:12.
6Against you, you alone have I sinned;
I have done what is evil in your eyes
So that you are just in your word,
and without reproach in your judgment.#Rom 3:4.
7Behold, I was born in guilt,
in sin my mother conceived me.#In sin my mother conceived me: lit., “In iniquity was I conceived,” an instance of hyperbole: at no time was the psalmist ever without sin, cf. Ps 88:15, “I am mortally afflicted since youth,” i.e., I have always been afflicted. The verse does not imply that the sexual act of conception is sinful.#Jb 14:4.
8Behold, you desire true sincerity;
and secretly you teach me wisdom.
9Cleanse me with hyssop,#Hyssop: a small bush whose many woody twigs make a natural sprinkler. It was prescribed in the Mosaic law as an instrument for sprinkling sacrificial blood or lustral water for cleansing, cf. Ex 12:22; Lv 14:4; Nm 19:18. that I may be pure;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.#Jb 9:30; Is 1:18; Ez 36:25.
10You will let me hear gladness and joy;
the bones you have crushed will rejoice.
II
11Turn away your face from my sins;
blot out all my iniquities.
12A clean heart create for me, God;
renew within me a steadfast spirit.#Ez 11:19.
13Do not drive me from before your face,
nor take from me your holy spirit.#Wis 1:5; 9:17; Is 63:11; Hg 2:5; Rom 8:9.
14Restore to me the gladness of your salvation;
uphold me with a willing spirit.
15I will teach the wicked your ways,
that sinners may return to you.
16Rescue me from violent bloodshed, God, my saving God,
and my tongue will sing joyfully of your justice.#Ps 30:10.
17Lord, you will open my lips;
and my mouth will proclaim your praise.
18For you do not desire sacrifice#For you do not desire sacrifice: the mere offering of the ritual sacrifice apart from good dispositions is not acceptable to God, cf. Ps 50. or I would give it;
a burnt offering you would not accept.#Ps 40:7; 50:8; Am 5:21–22; Hos 6:6; Is 1:11–15; Heb 10:5–7.
19My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit;
a contrite, humbled heart, O God, you will not scorn.
III
20#Most scholars think that these verses were added to the Psalm some time after the destruction of the Temple in 587 B.C. The verses assume that the rebuilt Temple will be an ideal site for national reconciliation.Treat Zion kindly according to your good will;
build up the walls of Jerusalem.#Jer 31:4; Ez 36:33.
21Then you will desire the sacrifices of the just,
burnt offering and whole offerings;
then they will offer up young bulls on your altar.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc