Psaume 51:16

16 Si tu eusses voulu des sacrifices, je t'en aurais offert; Mais tu ne prends point plaisir aux holocaustes.

Psaume 51:16 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 51:16

For thou desirest not sacrifice
Legal sacrifice; for there was no sacrifice appointed under the law for murder and adultery;

else would I give [it];
he would gladly have offered it up;

thou delightest not in burnt offering;
at least such kind of sacrifices, though they were of divine appointment, and at that time in full force and use; yet they were not the only and principal sacrifices God desired and delighted in; nor were they at all acceptable to him without faith in Christ, and an humble sense of sin; and when offered in the best manner, yet spiritual obedience, acts of mercy, and sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving, were more pleasing to him, ( 1 Samuel 15:15 1 Samuel 15:22 ) ( Hosea 6:6 ) ( Psalms 69:30 Psalms 69:31 ) ; wherefore the psalmist proposed to offer praise in ( Psalms 51:15 ) , and adds what follows.

Psaume 51:16 In-Context

14 O Dieu, Dieu de mon salut! délivre-moi du sang versé, Et ma langue célébrera ta miséricorde.

15 Seigneur! ouvre mes lèvres, Et ma bouche publiera ta louange.

16 Si tu eusses voulu des sacrifices, je t'en aurais offert; Mais tu ne prends point plaisir aux holocaustes.

17 Les sacrifices qui sont agréables à Dieu, c'est un esprit brisé: O Dieu! tu ne dédaignes pas un coeur brisé et contrit.

18 Répands par ta grâce tes bienfaits sur Sion, Bâtis les murs de Jérusalem!