God’s Word Translation
Psalms 51:17
17The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. O God, you do not despise a broken and sorrowful heart.
Psalms 51:17 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
- New International Version (NIV)My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.
- English Standard Version (ESV)The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
- New King James Version (NKJV)The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart— These, O God, You will not despise.
Context of Psalms 51:17
15O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will tell about your praise. 16You are not happy with any sacrifice. Otherwise, I would offer one ⌞to you⌟. You are not pleased with burnt offerings. The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. O God, you do not despise a broken and sorrowful heart. 18Favor Zion with your goodness. Rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. 19Then you will be pleased with sacrifices offered in the right spirit— with burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings. Young bulls will be offered on your altar.
Read all of Psalms 51Psalms 51:17 word by word
זִֽבְחֵ֣י אֱלֹהִים֮ ר֪וּחַ נִשְׁבָּ֫רָ֥ה לֵב־נִשְׁבָּ֥ר וְנִדְכֶּ֑ה אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים לֹ֣א תִבְזֶֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Psalms 51:17
- Psalms 107:22Let them bring songs of thanksgiving as their sacrifice. Let them tell in joyful songs what he has done.
- Mark 12:33To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as you love yourself is more important than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
- Romans 12:1Brothers and sisters, in view of all we have just shared about God’s compassion, I encourage you to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, dedicated to God and pleasing to him. This kind of worship is appropriate for you.
- Philippians 4:18You have paid me in full, and I have more than enough. Now that Epaphroditus has brought me your gifts, you have filled my needs. Your gifts are a soothing aroma, a sacrifice that God accepts and with which he is pleased.
- Hebrews 13:16Don’t forget to do good things for others and to share what you have with them. These are the kinds of sacrifices that please God.
- 1 Peter 2:5You come to him as living stones, a spiritual house that is being built into a holy priesthood. So offer spiritual sacrifices that God accepts through Jesus Christ.
- Psalms 34:18The Lord is near to those whose hearts are humble. He saves those whose spirits are crushed.
- Psalms 147:3He is the healer of the brokenhearted. He is the one who bandages their wounds.
- 2 Kings 22:19You had a change of heart and humbled yourself in front of the Lord when you heard my words against this place and those who live here. I had said that those who live here will be destroyed and cursed. You also tore your clothes ⌞in distress⌟ and cried in front of me. So I will listen ⌞to you⌟, declares the Lord.
- Isaiah 57:15The High and Lofty One lives forever, and his name is holy. This is what he says: I live in a high and holy place. But I am with those who are crushed and humble. I will renew the spirit of those who are humble and the courage of those who are crushed.
- Isaiah 61:1The Spirit of the Almighty Lord is with me because the Lord has anointed me to deliver good news to humble people. He has sent me to heal those who are brokenhearted, to announce that captives will be set free and prisoners will be released.
- Isaiah 66:2I have made all these things. “That is why all these things have come into being,” declares the Lord. I will pay attention to those who are humble and sorry ⌞for their sins⌟ and who tremble at my word.
- Ezekiel 9:3Then the glory of the God of Israel went up from the angels, where it had been, to the temple’s entrance. The Lord called to the person dressed in linen who was carrying paper and pen.
- Matthew 5:3“Blessed are those who recognize they are spiritually helpless. The kingdom of heaven belongs to them.
- Luke 18:11The Pharisee stood up and prayed, ‘God, I thank you that I’m not like other people! I’m not a robber or a dishonest person. I haven’t committed adultery. I’m not even like this tax collector.
- Psalms 22:24The Lord has not despised or been disgusted with the plight of the oppressed one. He has not hidden his face from that person. The Lord heard when that oppressed person cried out to him for help.
Commentaries on Psalms 51:17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit - As my crimes are such as admit of no legal atonement, so thou hast reserved them to be punished by exemplary acts of justice, or to be pardoned by a sovereign act of mercy: but in order to find this mercy, thou requirest that the heart and soul should deeply feel the transgression, and turn to thee with the fullest compunction and remorse. This thou hast enabled me to do. I have the broken spirit, נשברה רוח…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17The sacrifices of God - The sacrifices which God desires and approves; the sacrifices without which no other offering would be acceptable. David felt that that which he here specified was what was demanded in his case. He had grievously sinned; and the blood of animals offered in sacrifice could not put away his sin, nor could anything remove it unless the heart were itself penitent and contrite. The same thing is true now. Though a most perfect…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16-19Verses 16-19 Those who are thoroughly convinced of their misery and danger by sin, would spare no cost to obtain the remission of it. But as they cannot make satisfaction for sin, so God cannot take any satisfaction in them, otherwise than as expressing love and duty to him. The good work wrought in every true penitent, is a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart, and sorrow for sin. It is a heart that is tender, and pliable to God's word. Oh that…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-19This heartfelt prayer for restoration seeks God's favor, mercy, forgiveness, and cleansing. With a broken spirit, the psalmist admits his sin and takes responsibility (Psalm 51:3–6). He then asks God to remove his guilt and renew him internally (Psalm 51:7–12). The psalmist commits again to living wisely and joyfully while serving God and others (Psalm 51:13–17).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-191-4. A plea for mercy is a confession of guilt. blot out--as from a register. transgressions--literally, "rebellions" (Psa 19:13; 32:1).Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 51:17
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 51
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- The Treasury of David
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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