New English Translation
Psalms 51:17
17The sacrifices God desires are a humble spirit – O God, a humble and repentant heart you will not reject.
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, 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. The 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.
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 present thank offerings, and loudly proclaim what he has done!
- Mark 12:33And to love him with all your heart, with all your mind, and with all your strength and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
- Romans 12:1Therefore I exhort you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice – alive, holy, and pleasing to God – which is your reasonable service.
- Philippians 4:18For I have received everything, and I have plenty. I have all I need because I received from Epaphroditus what you sent – a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, very pleasing to God.
- Hebrews 13:16And do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for God is pleased with such sacrifices.
- 1 Peter 2:5you yourselves, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood and to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
- Psalms 34:18The Lord is near the brokenhearted; he delivers those who are discouraged.
- Psalms 147:3He heals the brokenhearted, and bandages their wounds.
- 2 Kings 22:19‘You displayed a sensitive spirit and humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard how I intended to make this place and its residents into an appalling example of an accursed people. You tore your clothes and wept before me, and I have heard you,’ says the Lord.
- Isaiah 57:15For this is what the high and exalted one says, the one who rules forever, whose name is holy: “I dwell in an exalted and holy place, but also with the discouraged and humiliated, in order to cheer up the humiliated and to encourage the discouraged.
- Isaiah 61:1The spirit of the sovereign Lord is upon me, because the Lord has chosen me. He has commissioned me to encourage the poor, to help the brokenhearted, to decree the release of captives, and the freeing of prisoners,
- Isaiah 66:2My hand made them; that is how they came to be,” says the Lord. I show special favor to the humble and contrite, who respect what I have to say.
- Ezekiel 9:3Then the glory of the God of Israel went up from the cherub where it had rested to the threshold of the temple. He called to the man dressed in linen who had the writing kit at his side.
- Matthew 5:3“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.
- Luke 18:11The Pharisee stood and prayed about himself like this: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: extortionists, unrighteous people, adulterers – or even like this tax collector.
- Psalms 22:24For he did not despise or detest the suffering of the oppressed; he did not ignore him; when he cried out to him, he responded.
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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