Skip to content

David

Psalm 51

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.

Play PsalmReady
Share:

Scripture (KJV)

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

2Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

3For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

4Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

5Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

6Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

7Purge 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 thy free 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: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

15O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.

16For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not 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 shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

Summary

Psalm 51 is the most profound prayer of repentance in the Psalter. Its superscription ties it to David’s confrontation with the prophet Nathan after his adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah. David does not minimize or excuse; he names his sin as ultimately against God Himself, acknowledges his own deeply rooted brokenness, and throws himself on the multitude of God’s tender mercies. He asks for washing, purging, and a clean heart created anew by God. The famous plea of verse 10—"Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me"—recognizes that only the Creator can remake the heart.

David also looks beyond himself: restored, he will teach transgressors God’s ways so that sinners return. The major themes are repentance, forgiveness, mercy, renewal, and the broken spirit God accepts. Verse 17 distills the gospel of the Old Testament: God desires not outward sacrifice but a broken and contrite heart. Practically, the psalm models honest confession, dependence on grace, and the hope that a restored sinner becomes a witness to grace. The great lesson is that no sin is beyond the reach of God’s mercy for the truly contrite heart.

Key Themes

A Prayer from Psalm 51

Merciful God, according to Your great lovingkindness, have mercy on me. Blot out my transgressions and wash me throughly from my iniquity. I acknowledge my sin; it is ever before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned. Purge me with hyssop and make me whiter than snow. Create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore the joy of Your salvation and uphold me by Your free Spirit. Open my lips, and my mouth will show forth Your praise. The sacrifice You desire is a broken spirit; a contrite heart You will not despise. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Reflection Questions

  1. 1What sin do I need to bring honestly before God today?
  2. 2What does it mean that God desires truth "in the inward parts"?
  3. 3How can a clean heart be "created" rather than merely improved?
  4. 4Whom might I teach about God’s ways once He restores me?

Related Psalms

Related Articles

Support BookofPsalms.org

If you find BookofPsalms.org helpful and would like to support the website, you may make a voluntary contribution through PayPal. Your support helps pay for the operation, hosting, maintenance, development, content, security, and continued improvement of BookofPsalms.org.

Independent Website & Contribution Disclosure

BookofPsalms.org is an independently operated, privately owned website. BookofPsalms.org is not affiliated with, sponsored by, endorsed by, or operated by any church, denomination, ministry, religious organization, charity, or nonprofit organization.

All funds contributed through BookofPsalms.org are received by the privately owned company that operates the website. Funds may be used by the company to support website hosting, maintenance, development, content creation, administration, advertising, technology, and other business and operating expenses.

Contributions are voluntary and are NOT tax-deductible charitable donations. BookofPsalms.org does not represent contributions as charitable donations or contributions to a nonprofit, church, ministry, or tax-exempt religious organization.

Receive weekly Psalms and prayers

A gentle Psalm, an original prayer, and a short reflection—delivered once a week.

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe anytime.