Psalm 51
For the director of music. A psalm of David when the prophet Nathan came to him. Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.
1 God, have mercy on me
according to your faithful love.
Because your love is so tender and kind,
wipe out my lawless acts.
2 Wash away all the evil things I've done.
Make me pure from my sin.
3 I know the lawless acts I've committed.
I can't forget my sin.
4 You are the one I've really sinned against.
I've done what is evil in your sight.
So you are right when you sentence me.
You are fair when you judge me.
5 I know I've been a sinner ever since I was born.
I've been a sinner ever since my mother became pregnant with me.
6 I know that you wanted faithfulness even when I was in my mother's body.
You taught me wisdom in that secret place.
7 Sprinkle me with hyssop, then I shall be clean.
Wash me, then I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear you say, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’
That will bring me joy and gladness.
Let the body you have broken be glad.
9 Take away all my sins.
Wipe away all the evil things I've done.
10 God, create a pure heart in me.
Give me a new spirit that is faithful to you.
11 Don't send me away from you.
Don't take your Holy Spirit away from me.
12 Give me back the joy that comes from being saved by you.
Give me a spirit that obeys you so that I will keep going.
13 Then I will teach your ways to those who commit lawless acts.
And sinners will turn back to you.
14 You are the God who saves me.
I have committed murder.
God, take away my guilt.
Then my tongue will sing about how right you are
no matter what you do.
15 Lord, open my lips so that I can speak.
Then my mouth will praise you.
16 You don't take delight in sacrifice.
If you did, I would bring it.
You don't take pleasure in burnt offerings.
17 The greatest sacrifice you want is a broken spirit.
God, you will gladly accept a heart
that is broken because of sadness over sin.
18 May you be pleased to give Zion success.
May it please you to build up the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then you will delight in the sacrifices of those who do what is right.
Whole burnt offerings will bring delight to you.
And bulls will be offered on your altar.
51:1–19 Psalm 51 is a poem about admitting sin. David's sins against Bathsheba and Uriah show how serious and hurtful sin is. Sins committed against other people are also committed against God. This is because God made everyone and he has tender and faithful love for them. The Israelites understood that sin made them unclean. It kept them from being in God's presence. This was like being sent away from God and having the Holy Spirit taken from them. God provided several ways for the Israelites to be made clean and pure. One way was to dip a hyssop plant into special water. Then the water would be sprinkled on someone to wash them (Numbers chapter 19). Another way was to make sin offerings or burnt offerings. Being washed and making sacrifices were important parts of how the Israelites worshipped God. But they only showed what happened on the outside of a person's body. They didn't show what happened inside the person's heart. In their heart is where people can feel truly sorry for their sin. God cares deeply about people's hearts. When people sin, they must make themselves humble before God. They must be completely honest and recognise all that they have done wrong. This is what it means to have a broken spirit. The spirit is the spiritual part of a person. People offer their broken spirit to God. They ask him to have mercy and to forgive them. Only God can take away a person's guilt. He can make a person able to say no to sin. He can make people able to be faithful to him.
Book 3 Psalms 73 through 89 are part of Book 3 in Psalms. These psalms are described as being of several different people or groups. These include Asaph, the sons of Korah, David, Heman and Ethan. Heman and Ethan were Levites appointed by David to lead the Israelites in worshipping God. Book 3 includes many kinds of poems and prayers. Book 3 ends with words of praise in Psalm 89:52.