Psalms 51

Psalm 51#sn Psalm 51. The psalmist confesses his sinfulness to God and begs for forgiveness and a transformation of his inner character. According to the psalm superscription, David offered this prayer when Nathan confronted him with his sin following the king’s affair with Bathsheba (see 2 Sam 11-12). However, the final two verses of the psalm hardly fit this situation, for they assume the walls of Jerusalem have been destroyed and that the sacrificial system has been temporarily suspended. These verses are probably an addition to the psalm made during the period of exile following the fall of Jerusalem in 586 b.c. The exiles could relate to David’s experience, for they, like him, and had been forced to confront their sin. They appropriated David’s ancient prayer and applied it to their own circumstances.

For the music director; a psalm of David, written when Nathan the prophet confronted him after David’s affair with Bathsheba.#tn Heb “a psalm by David, when Nathan the prophet came to him when he had gone to Bathsheba.”

1Have mercy on me, O God, because of your loyal love! Because of your great compassion, wipe away my rebellious acts!

2Wash away my wrongdoing! Cleanse me of my sin!

3For I am aware of my rebellious acts; I am forever conscious of my sin.

4Against you – you above all – I have sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. So you are just when you confront me; you are right when you condemn me.

5Look, I was guilty of sin from birth, a sinner the moment my mother conceived me.

6Look, you desire integrity in the inner man; you want me to possess wisdom.

7Sprinkle me with water and I will be pure; wash me and I will be whiter than snow.

8Grant me the ultimate joy of being forgiven! May the bones you crushed rejoice!

9Hide your face from my sins! Wipe away all my guilt!

10Create for me a pure heart, O God! Renew a resolute spirit within me!

11Do not reject me! Do not take your Holy Spirit away from me!

12Let me again experience the joy of your deliverance! Sustain me by giving me the desire to obey!

13Then I will teach rebels your merciful ways, and sinners will turn to you.

14Rescue me from the guilt of murder, O God, the God who delivers me! Then my tongue will shout for joy because of your deliverance.

15O Lord, give me the words! Then my mouth will praise you.

16Certainly you do not want a sacrifice, or else I would offer it; you do not desire a burnt sacrifice.

17The sacrifices God desires are a humble spirit – O God, a humble and repentant heart you will not reject.

18Because you favor Zion, do what is good for her! Fortify the walls of Jerusalem!

19Then you will accept the proper sacrifices, burnt sacrifices and whole offerings; then bulls will be sacrificed on your altar.