Psalms

Psalm 51:1–4

1For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. When Nathan the prophet came to him after his adultery with Bathsheba.

Have mercy on me,a 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.

3For I know my transgressions,

and my sin is always before me.

4Against You, You only, have I sinned

and done what is evil in Your sight,

so that You may be proved right when You speak

and blameless when You judge.b

Footnotes

  • a 51:1 Or Be gracious to me
  • b 51:4 LXX and victorious when You judge; cited in Romans 3:4|ROM 3:4

Read all of Psalm 51

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Psalm 51:1

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
For the choirmasterלַמְנַצֵּ֗חַlam·naṣ·ṣê·aḥPreposition-l, Article; Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singularH5329 be pre-eminent, enduring
A Psalmמִזְמ֥וֹרmiz·mō·wrNoun - masculine singularH4210 melody
of Davidלְדָוִֽד׃lə·ḏā·wiḏPreposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singularH1732 David
When Nathanנָתָ֣ןnā·ṯānNoun - proper - masculine singularH5416 Nathan
the prophetהַנָּבִ֑יאhan·nā·ḇîArticle; Noun - masculine singularH5030 spokesman, speaker, prophet
cameבְּֽבוֹא־bə·ḇō·w-Preposition-b; Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructH935 come in, come, go in, go
to himאֵ֭לָיו’ê·lāwPreposition; third person masculine singularH413 motion to
afterכַּֽאֲשֶׁר־ka·’ă·šer-Preposition-k; Pronoun - relativeH834 particle of relation
his adulteryבָּ֝֗אbāVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH935 come in, come, go in, go
withאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
Bathshebaשָֽׁבַע׃šā·ḇa‘Noun - proper - feminine singularH1339 Bath-Sheba
Have mercy on meחָנֵּ֣נִיḥān·nê·nîVerb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular; first person common singularH2603 shew favour, be gracious
O Godאֱלֹהִ֣ים’ĕ·lō·hîmNoun - masculine pluralH430 God
according to Your loving devotionכְּחַסְדֶּ֑ךָkə·ḥas·de·ḵāPreposition-k; Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singularH2617 goodness, kindness
according to Your greatכְּרֹ֥בkə·rōḇPreposition-k; Noun - masculine singular constructH7230 multitude, abundance, greatness
compassionרַ֝חֲמֶ֗יךָra·ḥă·me·ḵāNoun - masculine plural construct; second person masculine singularH7356 womb
blot outמְחֵ֣הmə·ḥêhVerb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singularH4229 wipe, wipe out
my transgressionsפְשָׁעָֽי׃p̄ə·šā·‘āyNoun - masculine plural construct; first person common singularH6588 transgression

Psalm 51:2

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Wash me cleanהַרְבֵּהhar·bēhVerb - Hifil - Infinitive absoluteH7235 be, or become, much, many, great
of my iniquityמֵעֲוֺנִ֑יmê·‘ă·wō·nîPreposition-m; Noun - common singular construct; first person common singularH5771 iniquity, guilt, or punishment of iniquity
and cleanse meטַהֲרֵֽנִי׃ṭa·hă·rê·nîVerb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singular; first person common singularH2891 be clean, pure
from my sinוּֽמֵחַטָּאתִ֥יū·mê·ḥaṭ·ṭā·ṯîConjunctive waw, Preposition-m; Noun - feminine singular construct; first person common singularH2403 offence, penalty, occasion

Psalm 51:3

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Forכִּֽי־kî-ConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
Iאֲנִ֣י’ă·nîPronoun - first person common singularH589 I
knowאֵדָ֑ע’ê·ḏā‘Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singularH3045 know
my transgressionsפְ֭שָׁעַיp̄ə·šā·‘ayNoun - masculine plural construct; first person common singularH6588 transgression
and my sinוְחַטָּאתִ֖יwə·ḥaṭ·ṭā·ṯîConjunctive waw; Noun - feminine singular construct; first person common singularH2403 offence, penalty, occasion
is alwaysתָמִֽיד׃ṯā·mîḏAdverbH8548 continuity
before meנֶגְדִּ֣יneḡ·dîPreposition; first person common singularH5048 what is conspicuous or in front

Psalm 51:4

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Against Youלְךָ֤lə·ḵāPreposition; second person masculine singular
You onlyלְבַדְּךָ֨׀lə·ḇad·də·ḵāPreposition-l; Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singularH905 separation
have I sinnedחָטָאתִי֮ḥā·ṭā·ṯîVerb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularH2398 miss
and doneעָ֫שִׂ֥יתִי‘ā·śî·ṯîVerb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularH6213 do, make
what is evilוְהָרַ֥עwə·hā·ra‘Conjunctive waw, Article; Adjective - masculine singularH7451 bad, evil
in Your sightבְּעֵינֶ֗יךָbə·‘ê·ne·ḵāPreposition-b; Noun - cdc; second person masculine singularH5869 eye
so thatלְ֭מַעַןlə·ma·‘anConjunctionH4616 purpose, intent
You may be proved rightתִּצְדַּ֥קtiṣ·daqVerb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularH6663 be just, righteous
when You speakבְּדָבְרֶ֗ךָbə·ḏā·ḇə·re·ḵāPreposition-b; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct; second person masculine singularH1696 speak
and blamelessתִּזְכֶּ֥הtiz·kehVerb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularH2135 be clear, clean, pure
when You judgeבְשָׁפְטֶֽךָ׃ḇə·šā·p̄ə·ṭe·ḵāPreposition-b; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct; second person masculine singularH8199 judge, govern

Cross-references

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

Psalm 51:1 Acts 3:19 · Isaiah 44:22 · Isaiah 43:25 · Psalm 51:9 · Colossians 2:14 · Psalm 69:16 · 2 Samuel 11:2–12:13 · Ephesians 1:6–8 · Psalm 106:45 · Psalm 4:1 · Psalm 25:6–7 · Romans 5:20–21

Psalm 51:2 1 John 1:7–9 · Hebrews 10:21–22 · Ezekiel 36:25 · Psalm 51:7 · Jeremiah 4:14 · Isaiah 1:16 · Revelation 1:5 · 1 Corinthians 6:11 · Acts 22:16 · Revelation 7:14 · Zechariah 13:1 · Hebrews 9:13–14

Psalm 51:3 Proverbs 28:13 · Isaiah 59:12 · Psalm 38:18 · Psalm 32:5 · Luke 15:18–21 · Leviticus 26:40–41 · Jeremiah 3:25 · Psalm 40:12 · Job 33:27 · Nehemiah 9:2

Psalm 51:4 2 Samuel 12:13–14 · Luke 15:21 · Genesis 20:6 · Genesis 39:9 · Romans 3:4 · Acts 17:31 · Revelation 16:5 · Leviticus 6:2–7 · Romans 2:5 · Genesis 9:6 · Psalm 50:6 · 2 Kings 21:6

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.