1 HAVE mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

1To the chiefe Musician. A Psalme of Dauid, when Nathan the Prophet came vnto him, after hee had gone in to Bath-sheba. Haue mercie vpon mee, O God, according to thy louing kindnesse: according vnto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

2Wash mee throughly from mine iniquitie, and clense me from my sinne.

3For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sinne is euer before mee.

4Against thee, thee onely haue I sinned, and done this euill in thy sight: that thou mightest bee iustified when thou speakest, and be cleare when thou iudgest.

5Behold, I was shapen in iniquitie: and in sinne did my mother conceiue me.

6Behold, thou desirest trueth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisedome.

7Purge me with hyssope, and I shalbe cleane: wash me, and I shall be whiter then snow.

8Make mee to heare ioy and gladnesse: that the bones which thou hast broken, may reioyce.

9Hide thy face from my sinnes; and blot out all mine iniquities.

10Create in mee a cleane heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within mee.

11Cast mee not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy Spirit from me.

12Restore vnto me the ioy of thy saluation: and vphold mee with thy free Spirit.

13Then will I teach transgressours thy wayes, and sinners shalbe conuerted vnto thee.

14Deliuer mee from blood-guiltinesse, O God, thou God of my saluation: and my tongue shall sing alowd of thy righteousnesse.

15O Lord open thou my lips, and my mouth shall shew foorth thy praise.

16For thou desirest not sacrifice: else would I giue it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.

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

18Doe good in thy good pleasure vnto Sion: build thou the walles of Ierusalem.

19Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousnesse, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullockes vpon thine altar.

I == Ps 51:9 ; Isa 43:25 ; 44:22 ; Col 2:14

 

II == Heb 9:14 ; 1st John 1:7 , 9 ; Rev 1:5

 

 

IV == 2nd Sam 12:13 ; Luke 15:21

 

 

V == Job 14:4 ; Ps 58:3 ; John 3:6 ; Rom 5:12 ; Eph 2:3

VI == JOb 38:36

 

VII == Lev 14:4 , 6 , 49 ; Num 19:18; Isa 1:18 ; Heb 9:19

 

VIII == Matt 5:4

 

 

 

X == Acts 15:9 ; Eph 2:10

XI == Gen 4:14 ; 2nd Kings 13:23 ; Rom 8:9 ; Eph 4:30

XII == 2nd Cor 3:17

 

 

XIV == Ps 35:28 ; 2nd Sam 11:17 ; 12:9

 

 

XVI == Num 15:27 , 30 ; Ps40:6 ; 50:8 ; Isa 1:11 ; Jer 7:22 ; Hos 6:6

 

XVII == Ps 34:18 ; Isa 57:15 ; 66:2

 

 

 

XIX == 1st Sam 22:9 ; Ps 4:5 ; Ezek 22:9 ; Mal 3:3

 

 

1 For the leader. A psalm of David,

2 when Nathan the prophet came to him after he had gone in to Bathsheba.

3 Have mercy on me, God, in accord with your merciful love; in your abundant compassion blot out my transgressions.

4 Thoroughly wash away my guilt; and from my sin cleanse me.

5 For I know my transgressions; my sin is always before me.

6 Against you, you alone have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your eyes So that you are just in your word, and without reproach in your judgment.

7 Behold, I was born in guilt, in sin my mother conceived me.

8 Behold, you desire true sincerity; and secretly you teach me wisdom.

9 Cleanse me with hyssop, that I may be pure; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

10 You will let me hear gladness and joy; the bones you have crushed will rejoice.

11 Turn away your face from my sins; blot out all my iniquities.

12 A clean heart create for me, God; renew within me a steadfast spirit.

13 Do not drive me from before your face, nor take from me your holy spirit.

14 Restore to me the gladness of your salvation; uphold me with a willing spirit.

15 I will teach the wicked your ways, that sinners may return to you.

16 Rescue me from violent bloodshed, God, my saving God, and my tongue will sing joyfully of your justice.

17 Lord, you will open my lips; and my mouth will proclaim your praise.

18 For you do not desire sacrifice or I would give it; a burnt offering you would not accept.

19 My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit; a contrite, humbled heart, O God, you will not scorn.

20 Treat Zion kindly according to your good will; build up the walls of Jerusalem.

21 Then you will desire the sacrifices of the just, burnt offering and whole offerings; then they will offer up young bulls on your altar.

PSALM 51 PRAYER FOR MERCY: Aftermath of David's Sin with Bathsheba (II Samuel 11, 12) A Penilential Psalm Create in me a clean heart.

This is a Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. With Psalm 32:3, 4 we see his agony while delaying confession.

v 1,2. David’s prayer for mercy recognizes he does not deserve forgiveness. To blot out was better than to erase. He also wanted washing and cleansing. 

v 3,4. The more David thought upon the wrong he had done to others, the more he realized that his ultimate sin was against God.

v 5,6. Because we are born in sin, we are condemned till we receive Christ, Jn. 3:18. Infants who die are exccepted, 2 Sam. 12:23.

v 7-9. Hyssop was the small shrub used to put blood around the door, Ex. 12:22 and other cases of ceremonial cleansing. He also wanted to be washed. In case of leprosy, both blood and water were used. This is a type of the sinner who is saved by the blood and washed from daily defilement, even as Jesus washed the disciples' feet, Jn. 13:10, or the priests at the laver after the altar.

v 10. Only God can create, and only God can make a heart clean. This is a good verse so use as we confess our sins to God before going to Him in prayer.

v 11. The Holy Spirit will not be taken away from believers under Grace, but He may be quenched and the believers become ineffective.

v 12. David had not lost his salvation, but had certainly lost the joy of salvation.

v 13-15. After he is cleansed, David can properly teach others and sing praises.

v 16-19. Truly God is interested in the broken and contrite heart. Only after that are other sacrifices pleasing to Him.