1. This is not merely a psalm — it is the sound of a king who broke covenant, yet still knew where to run. It is a song entrusted to the chief musician, so others might learn from his collapse. David writes it not in power, but in repentance, after the prophet Nathan exposes his sin with Bathsheba.
2. This is not the prayer of a man who was caught — but of a man who is being re-formed. The prophet did not kill him. Conviction did. Now, his cry begins.
3. Be gracious to me, Elohim — not for my merit, but because Your chesed (covenant love) never fails. According to the greatness of Your womb-compassion, erase my rebellion. Not just the act, but the nature beneath it.
4. Wash me — not once, but over and over. My guilt is not surface-level. Cleanse me where no one else can see.
5. I know my sins. They stand before me like pillars, silent accusers. I do not deny them. I confess them into Your presence.
6. It is against You, You alone, that I have sinned. Not because others weren’t affected, but because You are the holy standard. You are righteous when You judge. I have no defense. Only a plea.
7. I was shaped in iniquity. The fall runs deep — I was born broken. The problem is not just what I did. It’s what I’ve been all along.
8. Yet You desire truth in the hidden parts — the secret places no one sees. There, You plant wisdom. You want honesty, not performance.
9. Cleanse me with hyssop — the branch that applies the blood. Let the atonement reach me. If You purge me, I will be cleaner than snow.
10. Let me hear joy again. Let gladness return to my bones. What You crushed in correction, restore now in comfort.
11. Hide Your face from my sins. Blot out every act of rebellion. Leave no imprint behind.
12. Create in me a clean heart, Elohim. Not a repaired heart — a new one. And renew a steadfast spirit — one that doesn’t drift.
13. Do not cast me away from Your presence. Don’t remove Your Holy Spirit from me — I cannot live without Him.
14. Restore the joy of Your salvation — let me remember what it means to be Yours. Uphold me with a willing, generous spirit — one that says yes without resistance.
15. Then I will teach rebels Your ways. Sinners will return to You, because they will see what mercy did in me.
16. Rescue me from bloodguilt, Elohim of my salvation. And my tongue — once silent in shame — will sing of Your righteousness.
17. Adonai, open my lips. My mouth has been shut by guilt — but now I will declare Your praise.
18. You are not seeking mere sacrifices. If that’s what You wanted, I would offer it. But You are after something more holy: the heart.
19. The sacrifice You accept is a broken spirit. A heart shattered, surrendered, and stripped of pride — You will never despise that.
20. Do good in Your favor to Zion. Rebuild her walls. Let my personal repentance become national restoration.
21. Then You will be pleased with righteous sacrifices. Then offerings will rise again — not from religious obligation, but from hearts made whole by mercy. And the altar will blaze again with covenant fire.
Paul Christopher
Psalm 51 — Covenant Amplified Summary
1.
This is not merely a psalm — it is the sound of a king who broke covenant, yet still knew where to run. It is a song entrusted to the chief musician, so others might learn from his collapse. David writes it not in power, but in repentance, after the prophet Nathan exposes his sin with Bathsheba.
2.
This is not the prayer of a man who was caught — but of a man who is being re-formed. The prophet did not kill him. Conviction did. Now, his cry begins.
3.
Be gracious to me, Elohim — not for my merit, but because Your chesed (covenant love) never fails. According to the greatness of Your womb-compassion, erase my rebellion. Not just the act, but the nature beneath it.
4.
Wash me — not once, but over and over. My guilt is not surface-level. Cleanse me where no one else can see.
5.
I know my sins. They stand before me like pillars, silent accusers. I do not deny them. I confess them into Your presence.
6.
It is against You, You alone, that I have sinned. Not because others weren’t affected, but because You are the holy standard. You are righteous when You judge. I have no defense. Only a plea.
7.
I was shaped in iniquity. The fall runs deep — I was born broken. The problem is not just what I did. It’s what I’ve been all along.
8.
Yet You desire truth in the hidden parts — the secret places no one sees. There, You plant wisdom. You want honesty, not performance.
9.
Cleanse me with hyssop — the branch that applies the blood. Let the atonement reach me. If You purge me, I will be cleaner than snow.
10.
Let me hear joy again. Let gladness return to my bones. What You crushed in correction, restore now in comfort.
11.
Hide Your face from my sins. Blot out every act of rebellion. Leave no imprint behind.
12.
Create in me a clean heart, Elohim. Not a repaired heart — a new one. And renew a steadfast spirit — one that doesn’t drift.
13.
Do not cast me away from Your presence. Don’t remove Your Holy Spirit from me — I cannot live without Him.
14.
Restore the joy of Your salvation — let me remember what it means to be Yours. Uphold me with a willing, generous spirit — one that says yes without resistance.
15.
Then I will teach rebels Your ways. Sinners will return to You, because they will see what mercy did in me.
16.
Rescue me from bloodguilt, Elohim of my salvation. And my tongue — once silent in shame — will sing of Your righteousness.
17.
Adonai, open my lips. My mouth has been shut by guilt — but now I will declare Your praise.
18.
You are not seeking mere sacrifices. If that’s what You wanted, I would offer it. But You are after something more holy: the heart.
19.
The sacrifice You accept is a broken spirit. A heart shattered, surrendered, and stripped of pride — You will never despise that.
20.
Do good in Your favor to Zion. Rebuild her walls. Let my personal repentance become national restoration.
21.
Then You will be pleased with righteous sacrifices. Then offerings will rise again — not from religious obligation, but from hearts made whole by mercy. And the altar will blaze again with covenant fire.
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