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Psalms 51:1

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

KJV

In finem. Intellectus David,

Vulgate

Εἰς τὸ τέλος· συνέσεως τῷ Δαυείδ,

LXX

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: According to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

ASV

לַ/מְנַצֵּ֗חַ מִזְמ֥וֹר לְ/דָוִֽד

Hebrew

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In the original Hebrew

3 distinct Hebrew words appear in this verse.

דָּוִ֔ד
dvd
proper_noun · 1067×
מְנַצֵּ֥חַ
mntsch
verb · 65×
מִזְמ֥וֹר
mzmvr
noun · 57×

Themes

Historic Christian voices

8 passages from patristic writers, Reformers, and church catechisms citing this verse.

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness. This penitential Psalm, composed after David's sin with Bathsheba, is the most profound expression of repentance in all of Scripture. David pleads not his own merit but God's mercy alone. His confession — "in sin did my mother conceive me" — is not merely a personal statement but a declaration of the universal corrupti…
The minister shall begin with a confession of our sins, desiring the congregation to join with him both in heart and voice. After the confession, the minister shall pray for illumination of the Holy Spirit, that the Word may be rightly divided and rightly received. Then shall follow the reading and exposition of the Scriptures, which is the chief part of worship.
Q. What does the fifth request mean? A. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors means: Because of Christ's blood, do not hold against us, poor sinners that we are, any of the sins we do or the evil that constantly clings to us. Forgive us just as we are fully determined, as evidence of your grace in us, to forgive our neighbors.
Covers David's reign: his lament over Saul and Jonathan, the capture of Jerusalem, the bringing of the Ark, the Davidic covenant, the sin with Bathsheba, Absalom's rebellion, and David's final years. Josephus treats David as both a military genius and a flawed ruler.
'Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy lovingkindness.' See Ps. li. 1. David, the king and prophet, having sinned with Bathsheba, was reproved by Nathan the prophet. And he who had been bold enough to commit the sin was not too proud to confess it. Out of this deep humiliation he composed this Psalm, which the whole Church now uses as her own prayer. For who does not need…

Cross-references

  • 1Kgs 15:5 — Because David did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.
  • 2Sam 11:2 — And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautif
  • 2Sam 11:4 — And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.
  • 2Sam 12:1 — And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.
  • 2Sam 24:14 — And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let us fall now into the hand of the LORD; for his mercies are great: and let me not fall into the hand of man.
  • Acts 3:19 — Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
  • Acts 3:19 — Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
  • Col 2:14 — Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
  • Col 2:14 — Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
  • Dan 9:9 — To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him;
  • Eph 1:6 — To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
  • Eph 2:4 — But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
  • Eph 2:4 — But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
  • Exod 34:6 — And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,
  • Gal 5:17 — For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
  • Isa 43:25 — I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.
  • Isa 44:22 — I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.
  • Isa 44:22 — I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.
  • Isa 55:7 — Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
  • Isa 63:7 — I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD, and the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath besto
  • Isa 63:7 — I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD, and the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath besto
  • Isa 63:15 — Look down from heaven, and behold from the habitation of thy holiness and of thy glory: where is thy zeal and thy strength, the sounding of thy bowels and of thy mercies toward me? are they restrained
  • Jas 5:11 — Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
  • Jer 9:24 — But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I deligh
  • Jer 18:23 — Yet, LORD, thou knowest all their counsel against me to slay me: forgive not their iniquity, neither blot out their sin from thy sight, but let them be overthrown before thee; deal thus with them in t
  • Lam 3:32 — But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.
  • Luke 18:13 — And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
  • Mic 7:18 — Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.
  • Neh 4:5 — And cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee: for they have provoked thee to anger before the builders.
  • Num 14:18 — The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and four
  • Num 14:19 — Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of thy mercy, and as thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.
  • Prov 28:13 — He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
  • Ps 4:1 — Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.
  • Ps 5:7 — But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.
  • Ps 5:7 — But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.
  • Ps 25:6 — Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old.
  • Ps 25:7 — Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness’ sake, O LORD.
  • Ps 30:10 — Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me: LORD, be thou my helper.
  • Ps 31:16 — Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies’ sake.
  • Ps 40:11 — Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.