Psalm 51:1
New International Version
For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.

New Living Translation
Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins.

English Standard Version
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.

Berean Standard Bible
For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. When Nathan the prophet came to him after his adultery with Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your loving devotion; according to Your great compassion, blot out my transgressions.

King James Bible
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

New King James Version
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions.

New American Standard Bible
For the music director. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Be gracious to me, God, according to Your faithfulness; According to the greatness of Your compassion, wipe out my wrongdoings.

NASB 1995
For the choir director. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.

NASB 1977
Be gracious to me, O God, according to Thy lovingkindness; According to the greatness of Thy compassion blot out my transgressions.

Legacy Standard Bible
For the choir director. A Psalm of David. When Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; According to the abundance of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.

Amplified Bible
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David; when Nathan the prophet came to him after he had sinned with Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.

Christian Standard Bible
For the choir director. A psalm of David, when the prophet Nathan came to him after he had gone to Bathsheba. † Be gracious to me, God, according to your faithful love; according to your abundant compassion, blot out my rebellion.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For the choir director. A Davidic psalm, when Nathan the prophet came to him after he had gone to Bathsheba. Be gracious to me, God, according to Your faithful love; according to Your abundant compassion, blot out my rebellion.

American Standard Version
For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David; when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bath-sheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: According to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Show mercy upon me, oh God, according to your kindness, and according to the multitude of your mercies, blot out my sins!

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For the end, a Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, when he had gone to Bersabee. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy great mercy; and according to the multitude of thy compassions blot out my transgression.

Contemporary English Version
You are kind, God! Please have pity on me. You are always merciful! Please wipe away my sins.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Unto the end, a psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came to him after he had sinned with Bethsabee. Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy great mercy. And according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my iniquity.

English Revised Version
For the Chief Musician. A psalm of David: when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bath-sheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness; according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
[For the choir director; a psalm by David when the prophet Nathan came to him after David's adultery with Bathsheba.] Have pity on me, O God, in keeping with your mercy. In keeping with your unlimited compassion, wipe out my rebellious acts.

Good News Translation
Be merciful to me, O God, because of your constant love. Because of your great mercy wipe away my sins!

International Standard Version
Have mercy, God, according to your gracious love, according to your unlimited compassion, erase my transgressions.

JPS Tanakh 1917
For the Leader. A Psalm of David; when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bath-sheba. Be gracious unto me, O God, according to Thy mercy; According to the multitude of Thy compassions blot out my transgressions.

Literal Standard Version
TO THE OVERSEER. A PSALM OF DAVID, IN THE COMING OF NATHAN THE PROPHET TO HIM WHEN HE HAS GONE IN TO BATHSHEBA. Favor me, O God, according to Your kindness, | According to the abundance of Your mercies, | Blot out my transgressions.

Majority Standard Bible
For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. When Nathan the prophet came to him after his adultery with Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your loving devotion; according to Your great compassion, blot out my transgressions.

New American Bible
For the leader. A psalm of David, [2] when Nathan the prophet came to him after he had gone in to Bathsheba. [3] Have mercy on me, God, in accord with your merciful love; in your abundant compassion blot out my transgressions.

NET Bible
For the music director; a psalm of David, written when Nathan the prophet confronted him after David's affair with Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, because of your loyal love! Because of your great compassion, wipe away my rebellious acts!

New Revised Standard Version
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.

New Heart English Bible
[For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.] Have mercy on me, God, according to your loving kindness. According to the multitude of your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.

Webster's Bible Translation
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bath-sheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving-kindness: according to the multitude of thy tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.

World English Bible
For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, God, according to your loving kindness. According to the multitude of your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.

Young's Literal Translation
To the Overseer. -- A Psalm of David, in the coming in unto him of Nathan the prophet, when he hath gone in unto Bath-Sheba. Favour me, O God, according to Thy kindness, According to the abundance of Thy mercies, Blot out my transgressions.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Create in Me a Clean Heart, O God
1For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. When Nathan the prophet came to him after his adultery with Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your loving devotion; according to Your great compassion, blot out my transgressions. 2Wash me clean of my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.…

Cross References
Acts 3:19
Repent, then, and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped away,

Colossians 2:14
having canceled the debt ascribed to us in the decrees that stood against us. He took it away, nailing it to the cross!

2 Samuel 11:4
Then David sent messengers to get her, and when she came to him, he slept with her. (Now she had just purified herself from her uncleanness.) Then she returned home.

2 Samuel 12:1
Then the LORD sent Nathan to David, and when he arrived, he said, "There were two men in a certain city, one rich and the other poor.

1 Chronicles 21:13
David answered Gad, "I am deeply distressed. Please, let me fall into the hand of the LORD, for His mercies are very great; but do not let me fall into the hands of men."

Psalm 4:1
Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved my distress; show me grace and hear my prayer.

Psalm 19:12
Who can discern his own errors? Cleanse me from my hidden faults.


Treasury of Scripture

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your loving kindness: according to the multitude of your tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

A.

2 Samuel 12:1-13
And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor…

after

2 Samuel 11:2
And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.

O God

Psalm 25:6,7
Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old…

Psalm 109:21
But do thou for me, O GOD the Lord, for thy name's sake: because thy mercy is good, deliver thou me.

Psalm 119:124
Deal with thy servant according unto thy mercy, and teach me thy statutes.

multitude

Psalm 5:7
But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.

Psalm 69:13,16
But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O LORD, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation…

Psalm 106:7,45
Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies; but provoked him at the sea, even at the Red sea…

tender

Psalm 40:11
Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.

Psalm 77:9
Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah.

Psalm 145:9
The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.

blot

Psalm 50:9
I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds.

Nehemiah 4:5
And cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee: for they have provoked thee to anger before the builders.

Isaiah 43:25
I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.

Jump to Previous
Abundant Adultery Bathsheba Blot Chief Committed Compassion David Director Gracious Greatness Kindness Leader Loving Mercies Mercy Multitude Music Musician Nathan Prophet Psalm Steadfast Tender Transgressions Unfailing
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Abundant Adultery Bathsheba Blot Chief Committed Compassion David Director Gracious Greatness Kindness Leader Loving Mercies Mercy Multitude Music Musician Nathan Prophet Psalm Steadfast Tender Transgressions Unfailing
Psalm 51
1. David prays for remission of sins, whereof he makes a deep confession
6. He prays for sanctification
16. God delights not in sacrifice, but in sincerity
18. He prays for the church














(1) Blot out.--The figure is most probably, as in Exodus 32:32-33, taken from the custom of erasing a written record (comp. Numbers 5:23; Psalm 69:28). So LXX. and Vulg. Isaiah, however (Isaiah 44:22) uses the same word in a different connection, "I will blot out thy sins as a cloud." A fine thought that the error and guilt that cloud the mind and conscience can be cleared off like a mist by a breath from heaven.

Transgressions.--See Psalm 32:1. The word seems to imply a wilful throwing off of authority or restraint, perhaps here the breach of the covenant-relation irrespective of any particular sin by which the breach was brought about. Whether it is an individual or the community that speaks, the prayer is that Jehovah would act according to His chesed or covenant-favour towards the suppliant, and wipe out from His records whatever has intervened between the covenant parties. . . .

Verse 1. - Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving-kindness. It is observable that the whole psalm is addressed to God (Elohim), and not to Jehovah (the "Lord" in ver. 15 is Adonai), as though the psalmist felt himself unworthy to utter the covenant-name, and simply prostrated himself as a guilty man before his offended Maker. It is not correet to say that "loving-kindness implies a covenant" (Cheyne), since God is "good to all, and his tender mercies are over all his works" (Psalm 145:9). According unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. David's first prayer is for pity; his second, to have his offences "blotted out," or "wiped out" - entirely removed from God's book (comp. Exodus 32:32; Isaiah 43:25; Isaiah 44:22). He says "my transgressions," in the plural, because "his great sin did not stand alone - adultery was followed by treachery and murder" (Canon Cook).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
For the choirmaster.
לַמְנַצֵּ֗חַ (lam·naṣ·ṣê·aḥ)
Preposition-l, Article | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 5329: To glitter from afar, to be eminent, to be permanent

A Psalm
מִזְמ֥וֹר (miz·mō·wr)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4210: Instrumental music, a poem set to notes

of David.
לְדָוִֽד׃ (lə·ḏā·wiḏ)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

When Nathan
נָתָ֣ן (nā·ṯān)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5416: Nathan -- the name of a number of Israelites

the prophet
הַנָּבִ֑יא (han·nā·ḇî)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5030: A spokesman, speaker, prophet

came
בְּֽבוֹא־ (bə·ḇō·w-)
Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

to him
אֵ֭לָיו (’ê·lāw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

after
כַּֽאֲשֶׁר־ (ka·’ă·šer-)
Preposition-k | Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

his adultery
בָּ֝֗א (bā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

with
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

Bathsheba.
שָֽׁבַע׃ (šā·ḇa‘)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 1339: Bathsheba -- perhaps 'daughter of oath', the mother of Solomon

Have mercy on me,
חָנֵּ֣נִי (ḥān·nê·nî)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | first person common singular
Strong's 2603: To bend, stoop in kindness to an inferior, to favor, bestow, to implore

O God,
אֱלֹהִ֣ים (’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

according to Your loving devotion;
כְּחַסְדֶּ֑ךָ (kə·ḥas·de·ḵā)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 2617: Kindness, piety, reproof, beauty

according to Your great
כְּרֹ֥ב (kə·rōḇ)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7230: Multitude, abundance, greatness

compassion,
רַ֝חֲמֶ֗יךָ (ra·ḥă·me·ḵā)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 7356: Compassion, the womb, a maiden

blot out
מְחֵ֣ה (mə·ḥêh)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 4229: To stroke, rub, to erase, to smooth, grease, make fat, to touch, reach to

my transgressions.
פְשָׁעָֽי׃ (p̄ə·šā·‘āy)
Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 6588: Transgression


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OT Poetry: Psalm 51:1 For the Chief Musician (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 50:23
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