The big picture
Psalms 51 opens in verse 1 with “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 10 with “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”, and closes in verse 19 with “Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and…” Repeated or prominent terms include spirit, broken, burnt, offering, blot. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Psalms · King James Version · 19Psalms 51:1-7
1–7: Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according…
Psalms 51:1–7 opens with “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy…” and reaches “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on David alone in repentance after Nathan’s confrontation, with no attempt to romanticize the sin behind the prayer, with particular weight carried by iniquity, transgressions, wash.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot…” Naming Have keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Psalms 51:1-7
King James Version1Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
2Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
3For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
4Against 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.
5Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
7Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Psalms 51:8-14
8–14: Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken…
Psalms 51:8–14 opens with “Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.” and reaches “Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on David alone in repentance after Nathan’s confrontation, with no attempt to romanticize the sin behind the prayer, with particular weight carried by spirit, salvation, aloud.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.” Naming Make keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Psalms 51:8-14
King James Version8Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
9Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
10Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
11Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
12Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
13Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
14Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
Psalms 51:15-19
15–19: O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
Psalms 51:15–19 opens with “O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.” and reaches “Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on David alone in repentance after Nathan’s confrontation, with no attempt to romanticize the sin behind the prayer, with particular weight carried by burnt, offering, broken.
Context that brings the passage to life
“O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Psalms 51:15-19
King James Version15O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
16For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
18Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
19Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Psalms 51:1 begins with “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.”
Where the chapter turns
Psalms 51:13 forms a natural hinge: “Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.”
The final note
Psalms 51:19 leaves the reader with “Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine…”
A word trail through the chapter
The words spirit, broken, burnt, offering, blot, clean help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.