51 When David was rebuked by the Prophet Nathan for his great offenses, he did not only acknowledge the same to God, with protestation of his natural corruption and iniquity, but also left a memorial thereof to his posterity. 7 Therefore first he desireth God to forgive his sins, 10 And to renew in him his holy Spirit. 13 With promise that he will not be unmindful of those great graces. 18 Finally, fearing lest God would punish the whole Church for his fault, he requireth that he would rather increase his graces toward the same.
To him that excelleth. A Psalm of David, when the Prophet Nathan [a]came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.
1 Have mercy upon me, O God, [b]according to thy loving-kindness: according to the multitude of thy compassions put away mine iniquities.
2 Wash me [c]thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from mine sin.
3 For I [d]know mine iniquities, and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against thee, against thee only have I sinned, and done evil in thy sight, that thou mayest be just when thou [e]speakest, and pure when thou judgest.
5 Behold, I was born in iniquity, and in sin hath my mother conceived me.
6 Behold, thou [f]lovest truth in the inward affections: therefore hast thou taught me wisdom in the secret of mine heart.
7 Purge me with (A)hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Make me to hear [g]joy and gladness, that the [h]bones, which thou hast broken, may rejoice.
9 Hide thy face from my sins, and put away all mine iniquities.
10 [i]Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thine holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of thy salvation, and establish me with thy [j]free Spirit.
13 Then shall I teach thy [k]ways unto the wicked, and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
14 Deliver me from [l]blood, O God, which art the God of my salvation, and my tongue shall sing joyfully of thy righteousness.
15 [m]Open thou my lips, O Lord, and my mouth shall show forth thy praise.
16 For thou desirest no sacrifice, though I would give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a [n]contrite spirit: a contrite and a broken heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
18 Be favorable unto [o]Zion for thy good pleasure: build the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then shalt thou accept the sacrifices of [p]righteousness, even the burnt offering and oblation: then shall they offer calves upon thine altar.
Footnotes
- Psalm 51:1 To reprove him because he had committed so horrible sins, and lain in the same without repentance more than a whole year.
- Psalm 51:1 As his sins were manifold and great, so he requireth that God would give him the feeling of his excellent and abundant mercies.
- Psalm 51:2 My sins strike so fast in me, that I have need of some singular kind of washing.
- Psalm 51:3 My conscience accuseth me so, that I can have no rest till I be reconciled.
- Psalm 51:4 When thou givest sentence against sinners, they must needs confess thee to be just, and themselves sinners.
- Psalm 51:6 He confesseth that God who loveth pureness of heart, may justly destroy man, who of nature is a sinner much more him, whom he had instructed in his heavenly wisdom.
- Psalm 51:8 He meaneth God’s comfortable mercies toward repentant sinners.
- Psalm 51:8 By the bones he understandeth all strength of soul and body, which by cares and mourning are consumed.
- Psalm 51:10 He confesseth that when God’s Spirit is cold in us, to have it again revived, is as a new creation.
- Psalm 51:12 Which may assure me that I am drawn out of the slavery of sin.
- Psalm 51:13 He promiseth to endeavor that others by his example may turn to God.
- Psalm 51:14 From the murder of Uriah, and the others that were slain with him, 2 Sam. 11:17.
- Psalm 51:15 By giving me occasion to praise thee, when thou shalt forgive my sins.
- Psalm 51:17 Which is a wounding of the heart, proceeding of faith, which seeketh unto God for mercy.
- Psalm 51:18 He prayeth for the whole Church, because through his sin it was in danger of God’s judgment.
- Psalm 51:19 That is, just and lawful, applied to the right end, which is the exercise of faith and repentance.