1 To the Overseer. — A Psalm of David, in the coming in unto him of Nathan the prophet, when he hath gone in unto Bath-Sheba. Favour me, O God, according to Thy kindness, According to the abundance of Thy mercies, Blot out my transgressions. 2 Thoroughly wash me from mine iniquity, And from my sin cleanse me, 3 For my transgressions I do know, And my sin [is] before me continually. 4 Against Thee, Thee only, I have sinned, And done the evil thing in Thine eyes, So that Thou art righteous in Thy words, Thou art pure in Thy judging. 5 Lo, in iniquity I have been brought forth, And in sin doth my mother conceive me. 6 Lo, truth Thou hast desired in the inward parts, And in the hidden part Wisdom Thou causest me to know. 7 Thou cleansest me with hyssop and I am clean, Washest me, and than snow I am whiter. 8 Thou causest me to hear joy and gladness, Thou makest joyful bones Thou hast bruised. 9 Hide Thy face from my sin. And all mine iniquities blot out. 10 A clean heart prepare for me, O God, And a right spirit renew within me. 11 Cast me not forth from Thy presence, And Thy Holy Spirit take not from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of Thy salvation, And a willing spirit doth sustain me. 13 I teach transgressors Thy ways, And sinners unto Thee do return. 14 Deliver me from blood, O God, God of my salvation, My tongue singeth of Thy righteousness. 15 O Lord, my lips thou dost open, And my mouth declareth Thy praise. 16 For Thou desirest not sacrifice, or I give [it], Burnt-offering Thou acceptest not. 17 The sacrifices of God [are] a broken spirit, A heart broken and bruised, O God, Thou dost not despise. 18 Do good in Thy good pleasure with Zion, Thou dost build the walls of Jerusalem. 19 Then Thou desirest sacrifices of righteousness, Burnt-offering, and whole burnt-offering, Then they offer bullocks on thine altar!
Psalms · Young's Literal Translation
Psalm 51 Young's Literal Translation
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Notes on this text (1)
- Greek and Latin Bibles number most Psalms one lower than Hebrew and English Bibles.
Cross references (19)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Acts 3:19; Isaiah 44:22; Isaiah 43:25; Psalm 51:9; Colossians 2:14
- 2 1 John 1:7–9; Hebrews 10:21–22; Ezekiel 36:25; Psalm 51:7; Jeremiah 4:14
- 3 Proverbs 28:13; Isaiah 59:12; Psalm 38:18; Psalm 32:5; Luke 15:18–21
- 4 2 Samuel 12:13–14; Luke 15:21; Genesis 39:9; Genesis 20:6; Romans 3:4
- 5 Romans 5:12; Job 14:4; Psalm 58:3; Job 15:14–16; Ephesians 2:3
- 6 Psalm 15:2; 1 Samuel 16:7; Romans 7:22; 1 Peter 3:4; Job 38:36
- 7 1 John 1:7; Isaiah 1:18; Hebrews 9:13–14; Numbers 19:18–20; Hebrews 9:19
- 8 Hosea 6:1–2; Job 5:17–18; Psalm 6:2–3; Matthew 5:4; Psalm 126:5–6
- 9 Jeremiah 16:17; Micah 7:18–19; Colossians 2:14; Psalm 51:1; Isaiah 38:17
- 10 Ezekiel 11:19; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 4:22–24; Matthew 5:8; Ezekiel 18:31
- 11 Ephesians 4:30; 2 Kings 13:23; Isaiah 63:10–11; Romans 8:9; Genesis 6:3
- 12 Isaiah 41:10; Psalm 13:5; Isaiah 61:10; Jude 24; Luke 1:47
- 13 Luke 22:32; James 5:19–20; Acts 3:19; John 21:15–17; Acts 26:18–20
- 14 Psalm 35:28; 2 Samuel 12:9; Hosea 4:2; Psalm 26:9; Acts 20:26
- 15 Hebrews 13:15; Psalm 63:3–5; Psalm 9:14; Ezekiel 29:21; Psalm 119:13
- 16 Hosea 6:6; Psalm 40:6; Hebrews 10:5–6; 1 Samuel 15:22; Psalm 51:6
- 17 Psalm 34:18; Isaiah 66:2; Psalm 147:3; Luke 15:10; Mark 12:33
- 18 Psalm 102:16; Philippians 2:13; Ephesians 1:5; Zechariah 2:5; Luke 12:32
- 19 Psalm 4:5; Ephesians 5:2; Malachi 3:3; Romans 12:1; Psalm 66:13–15
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
How much availeth the Word of God to us for the correction of our life, both regarding His rewards to be expected, and His punishments to be feared, let each one measure in himself; and let him put his conscience without deceit before His eyes, and not flatter himself in a danger so great: for ye see that even our …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 8 (1888)
The sacrifice of God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart the Lord will not despise." Because, therefore, God stands in need of nothing, He declares in the preceding Psalm: "I will take no calves out of thine house, nor he-goats out of thy fold.
But if "I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me," where, I pray thee, O my God, where, Lord, or when was I, Thy servant, innocent?
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 1 (1886)
… is this last lowliness of mind which that blessed prophet commends, picturing to us the temper that is not merely subdued, but utterly broken, when he saith, "The sacrifice for God is a contrite spirit, a contrite and an humble heart God will not despise." And the Three Children also offer this unto God as a great sacrifice, saying, "Nevertheless, …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
… the Kingdoms, how by the Holy Ghost they prophesied themselves, and were rulers of the prophets;--and Samuel was called the Seer; and David says distinctly, The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and in the Psalms, And take not thy Holy Spirit from me, and again, Thy good Spirit shall lead me in the land of righteousness.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)