Psalms 51-53

Psalm 51

¹To the Overseer. -- A Psalm of David, in the coming inn unto him of Nathan the prophet, when he hath gone in unto Bath-Sheba. Favour me, O God, according to Thy kindness, According to the abundance of Thy mercies, Blot out my transgressions.

²Thoroughly wash me from mine iniquity, And from my sin cleanse me,

³For my transgressions I do know, And my sin is before me continually.

⁴Against Thee, Thee only, I have sinned, And done the evil thing in Thine eyes, So that Thou art righteous in Thy words, Thou art pure in Thy judging.

⁵Lo, in iniquity I have been brought forth, And in sin doth my mother conceive me.

⁶Lo, truth Thou hast desired in the inward parts, And in the hidden part Wisdom Thou causest me to know.

⁷Thou cleansest me with hyssop and I am clean, Washest me, and than snow I am whiter.

⁸Thou causest me to hear joy and gladness, Thou makest joyful bones Thou hast bruised.

⁹Hide Thy face from my sin. And all mine iniquities blot out.

¹⁰A clean heart prepare for me, O God, And a right spirit renew within me.

¹¹Cast me not forth from Thy presence, And Thy Holy Spirit take not from me.

¹²Restore to me the joy of Thy salvation, And a willing spirit doth sustain me.

¹³I teach transgressors Thy ways, And sinners unto Thee do return.

¹⁴Deliver me from blood, O God, God of my salvation, My tongue singeth of Thy righteousness.

¹⁵O Lord, my lips thou dost open, And my mouth declareth Thy praise.

¹⁶For Thou desirest not sacrifice, or I give it, Burnt-offering Thou acceptest not.

¹⁷The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A heart broken and bruised, O God, Thou dost not despise.

¹⁸Do good in Thy good pleasure with Zion, Thou dost build the walls of Jerusalem.

¹⁹Then Thou desirest sacrifices of righteousness, Burnt-offering, and whole burnt-offering, Then they offer bullocks on thine altar!

Psalm 52

¹To the Overseer. -- An instruction, by David, in the coming in of Doeg the Edomite, and he declareth to Saul, and saith to him, ‘David came in unto the house of Ahimelech.' What, boasteth thou in evil, O mighty one? The kindness of God is all the day.

²Mischiefs doth thy tongue devise, Like a sharp razor, working deceit.

³Thou hast loved evil rather than good, Lying, than speaking righteousness. Selah.

⁴Thou hast loved all devouring words, O thou deceitful tongue.

⁵Also -- God doth break thee down for ever, Taketh thee, and pulleth thee out of the tent, And He hath uprooted thee Out of the land of the living. Selah.

⁶And the righteous see, And fear, and laugh at him.

⁷‘Lo, the man who maketh not God his strong place, And trusteth in the abundance of his riches, He is strong in his mischiefs.'

⁸And I, as a green olive in the house of God, I have trusted in the kindness of God, To the age and for ever,

⁹I thank Thee to the age, because Thou hast done it, And I wait on Thy name for it is good before Thy saints!

Psalm 53

¹To the Overseer. -- ‘On a disease.' -- An instruction, by David. A fool said in his heart, ‘There is no God.' They have done corruptly, Yea, they have done abominable iniquity, There is none doing good.

²God from the heavens looked on the sons of men, To see if there be an understanding one, One seeking God.

³Every one went back, together they became filthy, There is none doing good -- not even one.

⁴Have not workers of iniquity known, Those eating my people have eaten bread, God they have not called.

⁵There they feared a fear -- there was no fear, For God hath scattered the bones of him Who is encamping against thee, Thou hast put to shame, For God hath despised them.

⁶Who doth give from Zion the salvation of Israel? When God turneth back to a captivity of His people, Jacob doth rejoice -- Israel is glad!