Psalms 51:3-13

3 For I am conscious of my error; my sin is ever before me.

4 Against you, you only, have I done wrong, working that which is evil in your eyes; so that your words may be seen to be right, and you may be clear when you are judging.

5 Truly, I was formed in evil, and in sin did my mother give me birth.

6 Your desire is for what is true in the inner parts: in the secrets of my soul you will give me knowledge of wisdom.

7 Make me free from sin with hyssop: let me be washed whiter than snow.

8 Make me full of joy and rapture; so that the bones which have been broken may be glad.

9 Let your face be turned from my wrongdoing, and take away all my sins.

10 Make a clean heart in me, O God; give me a right spirit again.

11 Do not put me away from before you, or take your holy spirit from me.

12 Give me back the joy of your salvation; let a free spirit be my support.

13 Then will I make your ways clear to wrongdoers; and sinners will be turned to you.

Psalms 51:3-13 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.