Focused Passage

Psalms 51:13-17

Create in Me a Pure Heart Through Mercy and Confession

Psalm 51 begins with David's plea for mercy according to God's steadfast love and abundant compassion. It then moves through direct confession, acknowledgment of God's righteous judgment, and admission of inward corruption. The prayer intensifies into requests for cleansing, joy, a clean heart, a renewed spirit, and preservation in God's presence. Restored mercy becomes restored witness and praise, and the psalm concludes by linking broken-hearted repentance to Zion's welfare and acceptable worship.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

13Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will return to You.

14Deliver me from bloodguilt, O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing of Your righteousness.

15O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise.

16For You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; You take no pleasure in burnt offerings.

17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 13

Cross-references

Luke 22:32Classic cross-references James 5:19Classic cross-references Romans 12:7Classic cross-references Acts 26:18Classic cross-references Acts 3:19Classic cross-references

Original words

Then I will teachאֲלַמְּדָ֣הH3925Verb - Piel - Imperfect Cohortative - first person common singulartransgressorsפֹשְׁעִ֣יםH6586Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine pluralYour waysדְּרָכֶ֑יךָH1870Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singularand sinnersוְ֝חַטָּאִ֗יםH2400Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine pluralwill returnיָשֽׁוּבוּ׃H7725Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralto Youאֵלֶ֥יךָH413Preposition | second person masculine singular

Verse 14

Cross-references

Psalms 7:17Classic cross-references 2 Samuel 12:9Classic cross-references Psalms 35:28Classic cross-references Psalms 119:175Classic cross-references Psalms 145:7Classic cross-references

Original words

Deliver meהַצִּ֘ילֵ֤נִיH5337Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular | first person common singularfrom bloodguiltמִדָּמִ֨ים׀H1818Preposition-m | Noun - masculine pluralO Godאֱ‍ֽלֹהִ֗יםH430Noun - masculine pluralthe Godאֱלֹהֵ֥יH430Noun - masculine plural constructof my salvationתְּשׁוּעָתִ֑יH8668Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singularand my tongueלְ֝שׁוֹנִ֗יH3956Noun - common singular construct | first person common singularwill singתְּרַנֵּ֥ןH7442Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person feminine singularof Your righteousnessצִדְקָתֶֽךָ׃H6666Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular

Verse 15

Cross-references

Philippians 4:6Classic cross-references Psalms 19:14Classic cross-references Psalms 63:3Classic cross-references Exodus 4:11Classic cross-references Hebrews 13:15Classic cross-references

Original words

O Lordאֲ֭דֹנָיH136Noun - proper - masculine singularopenתִּפְתָּ֑חH6605Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularmy lipsשְׂפָתַ֣יH8193Noun - feminine dual construct | first person common singularand my mouthוּ֝פִ֗יH6310Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularwill declareיַגִּ֥ידH5046Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singularYour praiseתְּהִלָּתֶֽךָ׃H8416Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular

Verse 16

Cross-references

1 Samuel 15:22Classic cross-references Hosea 6:6Classic cross-references Psalms 40:6Classic cross-references Hebrews 10:5Classic cross-references Jeremiah 7:22Classic cross-references

Original words

Forכִּ֤י׀H3588ConjunctionYou do notלֹא־H3808Adverb - Negative particledelightתַחְפֹּ֣ץH2654Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularin sacrificeזֶ֣בַחH2077Noun - masculine singularor I would bring itוְאֶתֵּ֑נָהH5414Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common singularvvvלֹ֣אH3808Adverb - Negative particleYou take no pleasureתִרְצֶֽה׃H7521Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularin burnt offeringsע֝וֹלָ֗הH5930Noun - feminine singular

Verse 17

Cross-references

Matthew 5:3Classic cross-references Psalms 34:18Classic cross-references Isaiah 66:2Classic cross-references John 4:24Classic cross-references Isaiah 61:1Classic cross-references

Original words

The sacrificesזִֽבְחֵ֣יH2077Noun - masculine plural constructof Godאֱלֹהִים֮H430Noun - masculine plural[are] a brokenנִשְׁבָּ֫רָ֥הH7665Verb - Nifal - Participle - feminine singularspiritר֪וּחַH7307Noun - common singular constructa brokenנִשְׁבָּ֥רH7665Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singularand a contriteוְנִדְכֶּ֑הH1794Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singularheartלֵב־H3820Noun - masculine singularO Godאֱ֝לֹהִ֗יםH430Noun - masculine pluralYou will notלֹ֣אH3808Adverb - Negative particledespiseתִבְזֶֽה׃H959Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular

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