King James Version · read & reflect
Psalm 51
Psalm 51 is the Bible's deepest prayer of repentance, written by David after the prophet Nathan confronted him over his sin with Bathsheba. It asks not for excuse but for mercy — 'create in me a clean heart, O God' — and grounds forgiveness in God's steadfast love rather than the sinner's worthiness. Honest about guilt and hungry for renewal, it has shaped Christian confession for millennia.
Key verses
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
Psalms 51:1Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Psalms 51:10The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
Psalms 51:17
Psalm 51 in full (KJV)
- Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
- Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
- For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
- 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.
- Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
- Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
- Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
- Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
- Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
- Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
- Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
- Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
- Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
- Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
- O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
- For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
- The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
- Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
- 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.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Psalm 51 mean?
- It is a model of true repentance: owning sin without excuse, appealing to God's mercy and steadfast love, and asking not just for pardon but for a renewed, clean heart. Its 'sacrifice' is 'a broken and a contrite heart.'
- Why did David write Psalm 51?
- After the prophet Nathan confronted him about his adultery with Bathsheba and the death of her husband Uriah, David wrote it as his prayer of confession and plea for restoration.