Seeking God’s Mercy

Psalm 51

The superscription tells us that David composed this psalm when he was at his very lowest point—when he had committed the horrible sin, not only of adultery with Bathsheba, but, worse, of sending her husband to his death—a sin that was brought home to him by the fearless prophet Nathan. If ever a man needed forgiveness, David did at that moment. The words of this psalm are used in Christian liturgies all over the world.

Psalm 51

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.

Have mercy on me, O God,

according to thy steadfast love;

according to thy abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,

and cleanse me from my sin!

For I know my transgressions,

and my sin is ever before me.

Against thee, thee only, have I sinned,

and done that which is evil in thy sight,

so that thou art justified in thy sentence

and blameless in thy judgment.

Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,

and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward being;

therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.

Purge me with…

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