Psalm 51:17

17 My sacrifice, O God, is^[a] a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.

Psalm 51:17 in Other Translations

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

17 The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.

17 I learned God-worship when my pride was shattered. Heart-shattered lives ready for love don't for a moment escape God's notice.

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: A broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

17 The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. O God, you do not despise a broken and sorrowful heart.

17 The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. God, You will not despise a broken and humbled heart.

17 The greatest sacrifice you want is a broken spirit. God, you will gladly accept a heart that is broken because of sadness over sin.

Psalm 51:17 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 51:17

The sacrifices of God [are] a broken spirit
That is humbled under a sense of sin; has true repentance for it; is smitten, wounded, and broken with it, by the word of God in the hand of the Spirit, which is a hammer to break the rock in pieces; and that not merely in a legal, but in an evangelical way; grieving for sin as committed against a God of love; broken and melted down under a sense of it, in a view of pardoning grace; and mourning for it, while beholding a pierced and wounded Saviour: the sacrifices of such a broken heart and contrite spirit are the sacrifices God desires, approves, accepts of, and delights in;

a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise;
but regard, and receive with pleasure; see ( Psalms 102:17 ) ; the Lord binds up and heals such broken hearts and spirits, ( Psalms 147:3 ) ( Isaiah 61:1 ) ; he is nigh to such persons, looks upon them, has respect unto them, and comes and dwells among them, ( Psalms 34:18 ) ( Isaiah 66:1 Isaiah 66:2 ) ( 57:15 ) .

Psalm 51:17 In-Context

15 Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise.

16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.

17 My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.

18 May it please you to prosper Zion, to build up the walls of Jerusalem.

19 Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous, in burnt offerings offered whole; then bulls will be offered on your altar.

Cross References

• 1. Proverbs 15:8; Haggai 2:14
• 2. Matthew 11:29; Psalms 34:18

Footnotes

• [a] Or "The sacrifices of God are"