A Cry for Mercy
Study note
David begs God for mercy based on God's great love. He asks to be washed clean and acknowledges that his sin is always before him. He has sinned against God alone.
1 God, show me mercy — your loyal love is so great. Your compassion runs so deep — use it to wipe my sins completely away. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
2 Scrub me thoroughly until every bit of guilt is gone. Clean every stain of sin right off of me. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
3 I am fully aware of what I have done wrong. My sin is always staring me right in the face. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned, and done this evil in your sight: that you might be justified when you speak, and be clear when you judge. Against 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.
5 The truth is, I have been tangled up with sin from the very start — from the moment I existed in my mother's womb. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Create in Me a Clean Heart
Study note
David asks God to purify him and make him hear joy again. He prays the famous words: 'Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.' He begs God not to take his Holy Spirit away and to restore the joy of salvation.
6 What you truly want is honesty deep down inside a person. So teach me wisdom in the hidden places of my heart. Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
7 Wash me clean with hyssop, and I will be spotless. Rinse me, and I will be whiter than fresh snow. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Fill my ears with the sound of joy and gladness. Let these bones that you crushed dance again. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
9 Look away from my sins and erase every guilty mark. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Please don't throw me out of your presence. Please don't take your Holy Spirit away from me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
12 Give me back the joy that comes from being saved by you. Hold me up with a spirit that is eager and willing. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
A Broken Spirit
Study note
David promises to teach others about God's ways if he is forgiven. He declares that God does not want mere animal sacrifices but a broken and humble heart — that is what God will never turn away.
13 Then I will show people who have gone astray how to find your ways, and those living in sin will come running back to you. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
14 Free me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God — you are the God who saves me. Then my tongue will burst into joyful songs about how right and good you are. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
15 Lord, unlock my lips, and my mouth will overflow with praise for you. O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
16 You have no interest in animal sacrifices — otherwise I would bring them. Burnt offerings don't make you happy. For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
17 What God truly wants is a heart that has been broken open. A heart that is humble and crushed — that is something you will never turn away, O God. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
A Prayer for Zion
Study note
The psalm ends with a prayer for Jerusalem to be rebuilt and prosper. Then the sacrifices of righteousness will be offered again.
18 Do good things for Zion out of your kindness. Rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then you will take delight in proper sacrifices — burnt offerings given the right way. Then bulls will be brought to your altar. Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.