Psalm 51 — Create in Me a Clean Heart, O God
The most direct confession of sin in the Psalter, headed by its superscription as David's prayer after the prophet Nathan confronted him over Bathsheba and Uriah (2 Samuel 11-12). There's no self-justification anywhere in it — David names his sin plainly ("I know my transgressions; my sin is constantly before me," v. 3), asks not just for pardon but for inner transformation ("create in me a clean heart, O God; renew a right spirit within me," v. 10), and explicitly rejects the idea that sacrifice alone could fix what's wrong: "the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit" (v. 17).
- Verse 4's claim — "against you, and you only, have I sinned" — is striking given that David's sin involved Bathsheba and the killing of Uriah; it's usually read not as denying harm to others but as recognizing that all sin is, at its root, an offense against God's character.
- Verse 5's "I was born in iniquity; in sin my mother conceived me" is one of the Bible's clearest early statements of what later theology calls original sin — a claim about the human condition generally, not an accusation against David's mother specifically.
- Verses 10-12's threefold request ("create," "renew," "restore") moves from asking for forgiveness to asking for an actual change in character — the psalm's deepest concern isn't escaping consequences but no longer being the kind of person who does this.
Psalms 51 (WEB)
1Have mercy on me, God, according to your loving kindness. According to the multitude of your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.
2Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity. Cleanse me from my sin.
3For I know my transgressions. My sin is constantly before me.
4Against you, and you only, I have sinned, and done that which is evil in your sight; that you may be proved right when you speak, and justified when you judge.
5Behold, I was born in iniquity. In sin my mother conceived me.
6Behold, you desire truth in the inward parts. You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.
7Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8Let me hear joy and gladness, That the bones which you have broken may rejoice.
9Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all of my iniquities.
10Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.
11Don’t throw me from your presence, and don’t take your holy Spirit from me.
12Restore to me the joy of your salvation. Uphold me with a willing spirit.
13Then I will teach transgressors your ways. Sinners shall be converted to you.
14Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, the God of my salvation. My tongue shall sing aloud of your righteousness.
15Lord, open my lips. My mouth shall declare your praise.
16For you don’t delight in sacrifice, or else I would give it. You have no pleasure in burnt offering.
17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
18Do well in your good pleasure to Zion. Build the walls of Jerusalem.
19Then you will delight in the sacrifices of righteousness, in burnt offerings and in whole burnt offerings. Then they will offer bulls on your altar.