Side by side
Psalm 51
Our plain-language guide next to the Bible text. Each row lines up one section with the verses it explains.
Section 1: Have MercyVerses 1 to 5
"Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your loving devotion; according to Your great compassion, blot out my transgressions" (51:1).
The appeal is not to David's record. It is to God's character — loving devotion, great compassion.
"Wash me clean of my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin" (51:2).
Three words for what is wrong: transgressions, iniquity, sin. Three words for what he needs: blot out, wash, cleanse.
"For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me" (51:3).
He is not asking for the sin to be minimized. He knows exactly what he has done.
"Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You may be proved right when You speak and blameless when You judge" (51:4).
David has sinned against Bathsheba and murdered Uriah. And yet: against God only. Every sin is ultimately against the Creator.
"Surely I was brought forth in iniquity; I was sinful when my mother conceived me" (51:5).
This is not an excuse. It is the full scope of what needs to be fixed. Not just one act — the whole self.
1For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. When Nathan the prophet came to him after his adultery with Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your loving devotion; according to Your great compassion, blot out my transgressions. 2Wash me clean of my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. 3For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. 4Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You may be proved right when You speak and blameless when You judge. 5Surely I was brought forth in iniquity; I was sinful when my mother conceived me.
Section 2: Create in MeVerses 6 to 12
"Surely You desire truth in the inmost being; You teach me wisdom in the inmost place" (51:6).
What God wants is not ritual cleansing but inward truth.
"Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow" (51:7).
Hyssop was used in ceremonial purification. David knows the ritual — and he knows only God makes it real.
"Hide Your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities" (51:9).
"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me" (51:10).
"Create" — the Hebrew word bara is used only of God. Only God can make what does not yet exist. David is not asking for repair. He is asking for new creation.
"Cast me not away from Your presence; take not Your Holy Spirit from me" (51:11).
The deepest fear: not punishment but separation.
"Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and sustain me with a willing spirit" (51:12).
6Surely You desire truth in the inmost being; You teach me wisdom in the inmost place. 7Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 8Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones You have crushed rejoice. 9Hide Your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities. 10Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. 11Cast me not away from Your presence; take not Your Holy Spirit from me. 12Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and sustain me with a willing spirit.
Section 3: Then I Will TeachVerses 13 to 19
"Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will return to You" (51:13).
Restoration has a purpose: David will teach. The broken man, restored, becomes a witness.
"Deliver me from bloodguilt, O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing of Your righteousness" (51:14).
"O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise" (51:15).
He cannot even praise without God opening the way.
"For You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; You take no pleasure in burnt offerings" (51:16).
Like Psalm 50: God is not satisfied by the ritual alone.
"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise" (51:17).
This is what David has to bring. A broken spirit is not nothing — it is the only offering that fits.
"In Your good pleasure, cause Zion to prosper; build up the walls of Jerusalem." (51:18).
The psalm ends outward — the city, the community, the right sacrifices of a restored people.
13Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will return to You. 14Deliver me from bloodguilt, O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing of Your righteousness. 15O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise. 16For You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; You take no pleasure in burnt offerings. 17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise. 18In Your good pleasure, cause Zion to prosper; build up the walls of Jerusalem. 19Then You will delight in righteous sacrifices, in whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on Your altar.
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