Psalm 51:1-7

1 Dem Vorsänger. Ein Psalm von David, als der Prophet Nathan zu ihm kam, nachdem er zu Bathseba eingegangen war. Sei mir gnädig, o Gott, nach deiner Güte: nach der Größe deiner Erbarmungen tilge meine Übertretungen!

2 Wasche mich völlig von meiner Ungerechtigkeit, und reinige mich von meiner Sünde!

3 Denn ich kenne meine Übertretungen, und meine Sünde ist beständig vor mir.

4 Gegen dich, gegen dich allein habe ich gesündigt, und ich habe getan, was böse ist in deinen Augen; damit du gerechtfertigt werdest, wenn du redest, rein erfunden, wenn du richtest.

5 Siehe, in Ungerechtigkeit bin ich geboren, und in Sünde hat mich empfangen meine Mutter.

6 Siehe, du hast Lust an der Wahrheit im Innern, und im Verborgenen wirst du mich Weisheit kennen lehren.

7 Entsündige mich mit Ysop, und ich werde rein sein; wasche mich, und ich werde weißer sein als Schnee.

Psalm 51:1-7 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.