Psalms 51
51
Psalm 51
For the choir director; a psalm by David when the prophet Nathan came to him after David’s adultery with Bathsheba.
1Have pity on me, O God, in keeping with your mercy.
In keeping with your unlimited compassion, wipe out my rebellious acts.
2Wash me thoroughly from my guilt,
and cleanse me from my sin.
3I admit that I am rebellious.
My sin is always in front of me.
4I 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.
5Indeed, I was born guilty.
I was a sinner when my mother conceived me.
6Yet, you desire truth and sincerity.
Deep down inside me you teach me wisdom.
7Purify me from sin with hyssop,#51:7 Branches from the hyssop plant were used in purification rites. and I will be clean.#51:7 “Clean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is presentable to God.
Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8Let me hear ⌞sounds of⌟ joy and gladness.
Let the bones that you have broken dance.
9Hide your face from my sins,
and wipe out all that I have done wrong.
10Create a clean heart in me, O God,
and renew a faithful spirit within me.
11Do not force me away from your presence,
and do not take your Holy Spirit from me.
12Restore 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.
14Rescue me from the guilt of murder,
O God, my savior.
Let my tongue sing joyfully about your righteousness!
15O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will tell about your praise.
16You are not happy with any sacrifice.
Otherwise, I would offer one ⌞to you⌟.
You are not pleased with burnt offerings.
17The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit.
O God, you do not despise a broken and sorrowful heart.
18Favor Zion with your goodness.
Rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
19Then 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.
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GOD'S WORD® Translation ©1995, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020 by God's Word to the Nations Mission Society. All rights reserved.
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.
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