Psalms 51:1-10

1 Have pity on me, O God, in keeping with your mercy. In keeping with your unlimited compassion, wipe out my rebellious acts.

2 Wash me thoroughly from my guilt, and cleanse me from my sin.

3 I admit that I am rebellious. My sin is always in front of me.

4 I 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.

5 Indeed, I was born guilty. I was a sinner when my mother conceived me.

6 Yet, you desire truth and sincerity. Deep down inside me you teach me wisdom.

7 Purify me from sin with hyssop, and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

8 Let me hear [sounds of] joy and gladness. Let the bones that you have broken dance.

9 Hide your face from my sins, and wipe out all that I have done wrong.

10 Create a clean heart in me, O God, and renew a faithful spirit within me.

Psalms 51:1-10 Meaning and Commentary

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. The occasion of this psalm was the sin of David with Bathsheba, signified by "going in to her"; an euphemism for "lying with her"; which sin was a very aggravated one, she being another man's wife, and the wife of a servant and soldier of his, who was at the same time exposing his life for his king and country's good; and David besides had many wives, and was also king of Israel, and should have set a better example to his subjects; and it was followed with other sins, as the murder of Uriah, and the death of several others; with scandal to religion, and with security and impenitence in him for a long time, until Nathan the prophet was sent to him of God, to awaken him to a sense of his sin; which he immediately acknowledged, and showed true repentance for it: upon which, either while Nathan was present, or after he was gone, he penned this psalm; that it might remain on record, as a testification of his repentance, and for the instruction of such as should fall into sin, how to behave, where to apply, and for their comfort. The history of all this may be seen in the eleventh and twelfth chapters of the second book of Samuel.