Commentary on Psalms - Volume 5

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba

1Have pity upon me, O God! according to thy mercy; According to the multitude of thy compassions blot out my iniquities.

2 Multiply to wash me from my sin, And from my wickedness do thou cleanse me.

3For my sins I know, And my wickedness is before me continually.

4Against thee, against thee only, have I sinned, And that which was displeasing in thy sight have I done; That thou mayest be justified when thou speakest, And be pure in giving judgment.

5Behold in iniquity I was born, And in sin conceive me did my mother.

6Behold, truth thou hast loved in the inmost parts, And in secret, wisdom thou hast made me know.

7Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

8Make me to hear joy and gladness; And exult shall the bones which thou hast broken.

9Hide thy face from my sins, And all my iniquities blot out.

10A heart [that is] clean create in me, O God! And a spirit [that is] right renew in my inward parts.

11Cast me not away from thy face, And the Spirit of thy holiness take not from me.

12Restore to me the joy of thy salvation, And with a free spirit uphold me.

13I will teach transgressors thy ways, the ungodly to time shall be converted.

14Deliver me from bloods, O God! O God of my salvation! And sing aloud shall my tongue of thy righteousness.

15O Lord! my lips do thou open, And my mouth shall show forth thy praise.

16For thou wilt not accept a sacrifice; Though I should give a burnt-offering, it would not please thee.

17The sacrifices of God are an afflicted spirit: A heart afflicted and contrite, O God! thou wilt not despise.

18Do good in thy good pleasure to Zion; Build thou the walls of Jerusalem.

19Then shalt thou accept the sacrifices of righteousness, The burnt-offering and oblation; ³²⁸ Then shall come upon thy altar calves.