Psalms 51 KJV
A Prayer of Repentance
About This Psalm
David's prayer after his sin with Bathsheba. The deepest repentance in Scripture. Create in me a clean heart - the prayer of anyone who's blown it badly.
1ave 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.
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Did You Know?
Written after Nathan confronted David about Bathsheba - the deepest repentance in Scripture
'Against thee, thee only, have I sinned' - all sin is ultimately against God
'Create in me a clean heart' - the verb 'create' (bara) is used only of God's activity
David doesn't ask for his sin to be overlooked but for genuine inner transformation
'A broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise' - God's preferred sacrifice
Commentary & Study Notes
Bible Navigator Study Notes
Written after the prophet Nathan confronted David over his sin with Bathsheba, this is the Bible's deepest prayer of repentance. It shows us what genuine sorrow over sin looks like โ not excuses, but honest confession reaching for mercy.
Have Mercy v1-2
David begins not with his sin but with God's character: "according to thy lovingkindness... according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies." He has no merit to plead, so he appeals entirely to grace. True repentance always begins by trusting that God is more merciful than we are guilty.
Against Thee Only v3-4
David had sinned grievously against Bathsheba, against Uriah, against the nation. Yet he says, "Against thee, thee only, have I sinned." He is not minimizing the human cost; he is recognizing that every sin is ultimately an offense against God Himself. Until we see sin this way, our repentance stays shallow.
Create in Me a Clean Heart v10-12
The verb "create" is the same used in Genesis 1 โ David knows he cannot reform himself; he needs God to make something new. His deepest fear is not punishment but the loss of God's presence and "the joy of thy salvation." Restored fellowship, not merely a cleared conscience, is the goal of repentance.