Keraia
Psalm 51

Psalm 51:9

Create in Me a Clean Heart, O God · Psalm 51:1–19
Read Psalm 51

Translations

Modern
Hide Your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities.
Traditional
Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
Literal
May You hide Your face from my sins, and wipe out all my iniquities.
Latin
Averte faciem tuam a peccatis meis, et omnes iniquitates meas dele.

Original

Hebrew
English
Hide Your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities.

Notes

Psalms 51:1–19

This heartfelt prayer for restoration seeks God's favor, mercy, forgiveness, and cleansing. With a broken spirit, the psalmist admits his sin and takes responsibility (Psalm 51:3–6). He then asks God to remove his guilt and renew him internally (Psalm 51:7–12). The psalmist commits again to living wisely and joyfully while serving God and others (Psalm 51:13–17).

Psalms 51:1–65:13

These psalms of David share a common theme. They reflect on the experience of evil. In Psalm 51, the psalmist admits his wrongdoing and asks for God's forgiveness. Psalms 52–64 express sorrow over specific evils David faced. A song of praise (Psalm 65) brings David's laments to an end.

Parallels

2 Samuel 12:1–12

Glossary

Bathsheba Cleanness and Uncleanness, Regulations Concerning Confession Conversion David Man, Old and New Mercy Music Prayer Psalms, Book of Repentance Sin

Topics

Conscience: Guilty Conviction of Sin Desire: Spiritual Homicide: David's Repentance For, and Confession of, the Murder of Uriah Living Holy Prayer of David Remorse: General Scriptures Concerning Repentance: Exemplified Sin: Forgiveness of