Psalm 51 is one of the most profound prayers of repentance in all of Scripture. It was written by King David after the prophet Nathan confronted him about his sins of adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband, Uriah (2 Samuel 11-12). It gives words to the deepest cry of a heart that has sinned and seeks not just pardon, but purity.
Here is the text of Psalm 51 (ESV):
1 Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin!
3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you may be justified in your words
and blameless in your judgment.
5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being,
and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones that you have broken rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins,
and blot out all my iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me away from your presence,
and do not take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and uphold me with a willing spirit.
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will return to you.
14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God,
O God of my salvation,
and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.
15 O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;
you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
18 Do good to Zion in your good pleasure;
build up the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then you will delight in right sacrifices,
in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings;
then bulls will be offered on your altar.
✨ The Journey of the Psalm
This psalm maps the true path of repentance:
1. The Plea for Mercy (v. 1-2): It begins exactly where you began your prayers—with a cry for mercy based on God's character (steadfast love, abundant mercy), not our own.
2. The Confession of Sin (v. 3-6): David holds nothing back. He acknowledges his specific acts, his constant awareness of guilt, and the ultimate truth that all sin is first and foremost against God.
3. The Prayer for Cleansing (v. 7-9): He asks for the deep, purifying work that only God can do, using the imagery of ritual washing ("hyssop") to become "whiter than snow."
4. The Cry for Transformation (v. 10-12): This is the heart of the psalm. David knows forgiveness is not enough; he needs a new heart and a renewed spirit. He prays for restoration and the return of joy.
5. The Promise of Response (v. 13-17): A cleansed life becomes a testimony. David promises to lead others to God. The key verse (v. 17) reveals what God truly desires: "a broken and contrite heart."
6. The Corporate Concern (v. 18-19): True repentance restores not only the individual but also benefits the whole community ("Zion").
🙏 A Prayer from Psalm 51
God of Steadfast Love,
Like David,I come to You with a heart that knows its own failure.
Against You,I have sinned.
Have mercy on me.
Blot out my record.
Wash me,and I will be clean.
But do not stop there.
Create in me a clean heart, O God.
Renew a right spirit within me.
Do not let my sin separate me from Your presence.
Restore to me the deep,quiet joy that comes only from Your salvation.
I offer You my broken spirit and my contrite heart.
I have nothing else to give.
Receive me,transform me, and use my restored life to point others to Your mercy.
In the name of Jesus, whose sacrifice makes this cleansing possible,
Amen.
This psalm is God's gift to every repentant sinner. It assures us that when we come with a broken heart, we find a healing God.
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