Create in Me a Clean Heart, O God
(2 Samuel 12:1-12)
1{To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.} Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
2Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
3For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
4Against 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.
5Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
7Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
9Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
10Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
11Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
12Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
13Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
14Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
15O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
16For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
18Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
19Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.
King James Bible
Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.
Create in Me a Clean Heart, O God
(2 Samuel 12:1–12)
1 For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, God, according to your loving kindness. According to the multitude of your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity. Cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions. My sin is constantly before me.
4 Against you, and you only, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in your sight; that you may be proved right when you speak, and justified when you judge.
5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity. In sin my mother conceived me.
6 Behold, you desire truth in the inward parts. You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.
7 Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness, That the bones which you have broken may rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all of my iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.
11 Don’t throw me from your presence, and don’t take your holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation. Uphold me with a willing spirit.
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways. Sinners shall be converted to you.
14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation. My tongue shall sing aloud of your righteousness.
15 Lord, open my lips. My mouth shall declare your praise.
16 For you don’t delight in sacrifice, or else I would give it. You have no pleasure in burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
18 Do well in your good pleasure to Zion. Build the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then you will delight in the sacrifices of righteousness, in burnt offerings and in whole burnt offerings. Then they will offer bulls on your altar.
Create in Me a Clean Heart, O God
(2 Samuel 12:1–12)
For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. When Nathan the prophet came to him after his adultery with Bathsheba.
1Have mercy on me, a O God,
according to Your loving devotion;
according to Your great compassion,
blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me clean of my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.
4 Against 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
5 Surely I was brought forth in iniquity;
I was sinful when my mother conceived me.
6 Surely You desire truth in the inmost being;
You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.
7 Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones You have crushed rejoice.
9 Hide Your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from Your presence;
take not Your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
and sustain me with a willing spirit.
13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
and sinners will return to You.
14 Deliver me from bloodguilt, O God,
the God of my salvation,
and my tongue will sing of Your righteousness.
15 O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare Your praise.
16 For You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
You take no pleasure in burnt offerings.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and a contrite heart,
O God, You will not despise.
18 In Your good pleasure, cause Zion to prosper;
build up the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then You will delight in righteous sacrifices,
in whole burnt offerings;
then bulls will be offered on Your altar.
Footnotes:
1 a Or Be gracious to me
4 b LXX and victorious when You judge ; cited in Romans 3:4
Create in Me a Clean Heart, O God
(2 Samuel 12:1-12)
1To the Overseer. -- A Psalm of David, in the coming in unto him of Nathan the prophet, when he hath gone in unto Bath-Sheba. Favour me, O God, according to Thy kindness, According to the abundance of Thy mercies, Blot out my transgressions.
2Thoroughly wash me from mine iniquity, And from my sin cleanse me,
3For my transgressions I do know, And my sin is before me continually.
4Against Thee, Thee only, I have sinned, And done the evil thing in Thine eyes, So that Thou art righteous in Thy words, Thou art pure in Thy judging.
5Lo, in iniquity I have been brought forth, And in sin doth my mother conceive me.
6Lo, truth Thou hast desired in the inward parts, And in the hidden part Wisdom Thou causest me to know.
7Thou cleansest me with hyssop and I am clean, Washest me, and than snow I am whiter.
8Thou causest me to hear joy and gladness, Thou makest joyful bones Thou hast bruised.
9Hide Thy face from my sin. And all mine iniquities blot out.
10A clean heart prepare for me, O God, And a right spirit renew within me.
11Cast me not forth from Thy presence, And Thy Holy Spirit take not from me.
12Restore to me the joy of Thy salvation, And a willing spirit doth sustain me.
13I teach transgressors Thy ways, And sinners unto Thee do return.
14Deliver me from blood, O God, God of my salvation, My tongue singeth of Thy righteousness.
15O Lord, my lips thou dost open, And my mouth declareth Thy praise.
16For Thou desirest not sacrifice, or I give it, Burnt-offering Thou acceptest not.
17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A heart broken and bruised, O God, Thou dost not despise.
18Do good in Thy good pleasure with Zion, Thou dost build the walls of Jerusalem.
19Then Thou desirest sacrifices of righteousness, Burnt-offering, and whole burnt-offering, Then they offer bullocks on thine altar!
Superscription
¹To the choirmaster. A mizmor* of David ²when Natan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in unto Bat-Sheva.
Plea for Cleansing
³Show favour to me, Elohim, according to Your chesed*; according to the abundance of Your compassions, wipe away my transgressions. ⁴Abundantly wash me from my iniquity, and from my sin cleanse me. ⁵For my transgressions I am knowing, and my sin before me continually. ⁶Against You, You alone, I have sinned, and the evil in Your eyes I have done, so that You are being righteous in Your speaking, You are being pure in Your judging.
Acknowledgment of Sin
⁷Behold, in iniquity I was brought forth*, and in sin my mother conceived me. ⁸Behold, truth You have desired in the inward parts, and in the hidden place wisdom You are causing me to know. ⁹Purge me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be white from snow. ¹⁰Cause me to hear joy and gladness; let rejoice the bones you have crushed.
Prayer for Restoration
¹¹Hide Your face from my sins, and all my iniquities wipe away. ¹²A clean heart create for me, Elohim, and a steadfast spirit renew within me. ¹³Do not cast me from Your presence, and Your Ruach HaKodesh* do not take from me. ¹⁴Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and with a willing spirit uphold me.
Vow of Praise
¹⁵I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners unto You shall return. ¹⁶Deliver me from bloodguilt*, Elohim, Elohim of my salvation; my tongue shall ring out Your righteousness. ¹⁷Adonai, my lips you shall open, and my mouth shall declare Your praise.
True Sacrifice
¹⁸For You are not desiring sacrifice, or I would give; burnt offering You are not accepting. ¹⁹The sacrifices of Elohim are a broken spirit; a heart broken and crushed, Elohim, You will not despise.
Prayer for Zion
²⁰Do good in Your favour to Tzion; build the walls of Yerushalayim. ²¹Then You will delight in sacrifices of righteousness, burnt offering and whole offering; then they will offer bulls upon Your altar.
Footnotes:
- mizmor: Technical term for a psalm with musical accompaniment
- chesed: Covenant faithfulness and steadfast love
- brought forth: Pulal stem emphasizing passive state
- Ruach HaKodesh: The Holy Spirit/breath of God
- bloodguilt: Plural form דמים suggesting serious bloodshed
A Broken Heart's Cry for Mercy
¹ Have mercy on me, O God, out of Your boundless covenant love*! Let Your infinite compassion erase all trace of my rebellious acts. ² Wash me completely clean from my moral corruption; purify me from the stain of my sin. ³ For I can’t escape the reality of my transgressions*—my sin haunts me day and night. ⁴ Against You, You alone, have I sinned, committing evil in Your sight. When You judge me, Your verdict is perfectly just and Your sentence entirely right*.
The Deep Roots of Sin
⁵ Look—I was born with a bent toward sin*, shaped in iniquity from my very conception. ⁶ But I know You desire truth in my innermost being*; in the secret depths of my heart, You will teach me wisdom. ⁷ Purify me with hyssop until I’m clean; wash me until I’m whiter than freshly fallen snow*. ⁸ Let me hear joy and gladness again; let the bones You have crushed dance once more.
Prayer for Renewal
⁹ Turn Your face away from my sins and wipe away all my guilt. ¹⁰ Create in me a pure heart, O God*, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. ¹¹ Don’t cast me away from Your presence or take Your precious Holy Spirit from me*. ¹² Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me.
The Response of a Restored Heart
¹³ Then I will teach rebels Your ways, and sinners will turn back to You. ¹⁴ Deliver me from blood-guilt*, O God, the God who saves me, and my tongue will sing of Your righteousness. ¹⁵ Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise. ¹⁶ You don’t desire sacrifice, or I would bring it; You take no pleasure in burnt offerings*. ¹⁷ The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.
Prayer for Zion
¹⁸ In your good pleasure, make Zion prosper; build up the walls of Jerusalem. ¹⁹ Then You will delight in proper sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on Your altar*.
Footnotes:
*51:1 - The Hebrew word "chesed" implies God's covenant love and faithfulness.
*51:3 - Written after David's sin with Bathsheba, showing the weight of conviction.
*51:4 - Acknowledges God's role as ultimate moral authority and judge.
*51:5 - Expresses the doctrine of inherited sinful nature.
*51:6 - "Truth" here means moral integrity and authenticity before God.
*51:7 - Hyssop was used in ceremonial cleansing; symbolizes spiritual purification.
*51:10 - "Create" uses the same Hebrew word as Genesis 1:1, suggesting total renewal.
*51:11 - Reflects David's fear of losing his relationship with God like Saul did.
*51:14 - Specifically references the death of Uriah the Hittite.
*51:16 - Shows that external ritual without internal repentance is meaningless.
*51:19 - The final verses reconcile individual repentance with corporate worship.
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