Psalms 51

Superscription: a psalm of David after Nathan came to him

לַמְנַצֵּחַ מִזְמוֹר לְדָוִֽד׃ בְּֽבוֹא-אֵלָיו נָתָן הַנָּבִיא כַּֽאֲשֶׁר-בָּא אֶל-בַּת-שָֽׁבַע׃
*
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.

A plea for mercy and cleansing from sin

‫(הרבה)‬ אֱלֹהִים אֱלֹהִים כְּחַסְדֶּךָ כְּרֹב רַחֲמֶיךָ מְחֵה פְשָׁעָֽי׃
1
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
הֶרֶבה כַּבְּסֵנִי מֵעֲוֺנִי וּֽמֵחַטָּאתִי טַהֲרֵֽנִי׃
2
Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
כִּֽי-פְשָׁעַי אֲנִי אֵדָע וְחַטָּאתִי נֶגְדִּי תָמִֽיד׃
3
For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
לְךָ לְבַדְּךָ׀ חָטָאתִי וְהָרַע בְּעֵינֶיךָ עָשִׂיתִי לְמַעַן תִּצְדַּק בְּדָבְרֶךָ תִּזְכֶּה בְשָׁפְטֶֽךָ׃
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.
הֵן-בְּעָווֹן חוֹלָלְתִּי וּבְחֵטְא יֶֽחֱמַתְנִי אִמִּֽי׃
5
Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
הֵן-אֱמֶת חָפַצְתָּ בַטֻּחוֹת וּבְסָתֻם חָכְמָה תוֹדִיעֵֽנִי׃
6
Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
תְּחַטְּאֵנִי בְאֵזוֹב וְאֶטְהָר תְּכַבְּסֵנִי וּמִשֶּׁלֶג אַלְבִּֽין׃
7
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
תַּשְׁמִיעֵנִי שָׂשׂוֹן וְשִׂמְחָה תָּגֵלְנָה עֲצָמוֹת דִּכִּֽיתָ׃
8
Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
הַסְתֵּר פָּנֶיךָ מֵחֲטָאָי וְֽכָל-עֲוֺנֹתַי מְחֵֽה׃
9
Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
לֵב טָהוֹר בְּרָא-לִי אֱלֹהִים וְרוּחַ נָכוֹן חַדֵּשׁ בְּקִרְבִּֽי׃
10
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
אַל-תַּשְׁלִיכֵנִי מִלְּפָנֶיךָ וְרוּחַ קָדְשְׁךָ אַל-תִּקַּח מִמֶּֽנִּי׃
11
Cast away me not from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
הָשִׁיבָה לִּי שְׂשׂוֹן יִשְׁעֶךָ וְרוּחַ נְדִיבָה תִסְמְכֵֽנִי׃
12
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

Vows to teach and praise, and the sacrifice of a broken heart

אֲלַמְּדָה פֹשְׁעִים דְּרָכֶיךָ וְחַטָּאִים אֵלֶיךָ יָשֽׁוּבוּ׃
13
Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
הַצִּילֵנִי מִדָּמִים׀ אֱֽלֹהִים אֱלֹהֵי תְּשׁוּעָתִי תְּרַנֵּן לְשׁוֹנִי צִדְקָתֶֽךָ׃
14
Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
אֲדֹנָי שְׂפָתַי תִּפְתָּח וּפִי יַגִּיד תְּהִלָּתֶֽךָ׃
15
O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
כִּי׀ לֹא-תַחְפֹּץ זֶבַח וְאֶתֵּנָה עוֹלָה לֹא תִרְצֶֽה׃
16
For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
זִֽבְחֵי אֱלֹהִים רוּחַ נִשְׁבָּרָה לֵב-נִשְׁבָּר וְנִדְכֶּה אֱלֹהִים לֹא תִבְזֶֽה׃
17
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
הֵיטִיבָה בִרְצוֹנְךָ אֶת-צִיּוֹן תִּבְנֶה חוֹמוֹת יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃
18
Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
אָז תַּחְפֹּץ זִבְחֵי-צֶדֶק עוֹלָה וְכָלִיל אָז יַעֲלוּ עַל-מִזְבַּחֲךָ פָרִֽים׃
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.

Places in Psalms 51

People, Places & Things in Psalms 51