Psalm 51:3

3 (50-5) For I know my iniquity, and my sin is always before me.

Psalm 51:3 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 51:3

For I acknowledge my transgressions
Before God and man. Acknowledgment of sin is what the Lord requires, and promises forgiveness upon, and therefore is used here as a plea for it; and moreover the psalmist had done so before, and had succeeded in this way, which must encourage him to take the same course again; see ( Psalms 32:5 ) ;

and my sin [is] ever before me;
staring him in the face; gnawing upon his conscience, and filling him with remorse and distress; so that his life was a burden to him: for though God had put away sin out of his own sight, so that he would not condemn him for it, and he should not die; notwithstanding as yet it was not caused to pass from David, or the guilt of it removed from his conscience.

Psalm 51:3 In-Context

1 (50-1) <Unto the end, a psalm of David, (50-2) When Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had sinned with Bethsabee.> (50-3) Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy great mercy. And according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my iniquity.

2 (50-4) Wash me yet more from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

3 (50-5) For I know my iniquity, and my sin is always before me.

4 (50-6) To thee only have I sinned, and have done evil before thee: that thou mayst be justified in thy words, and mayst overcome when thou art judged.

5 (50-7) For behold I was conceived in iniquities; and in sins did my mother conceive me.