---
title: "Commentary on the Psalms, Volume 5"
author: "John Calvin"
translator: "James Anderson"
languages: [en]
shelf: "Commentaries"
section: 73 of 159
url: https://scriptura.si/works/john-calvin-commentary-on-the-psalms-volume-5/73/
cite: "John Calvin, tr. James Anderson, Commentary on the Psalms, Volume 5, section 73. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/john-calvin-commentary-on-the-psalms-volume-5/73/"
---

# Commentary on the Psalms, Volume 5

*John Calvin, tr. James Anderson*

Calvin on the Psalms, volume 5 of 5.

## 73. Psalm 51

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/john-calvin-commentary-on-the-psalms-volume-5/73/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/john-calvin-commentary-on-the-psalms-volume-5/73/#p-N

[¶0] To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba

[¶1] 1 Have pity upon me, O God! according to thy mercy; According to the multitude of thy compassions blot out my iniquities.

[¶2] 2 Multiply to wash me from my sin, And from my wickedness do thou cleanse me.

[¶3] 3 For my sins I know, And my wickedness is before me continually.

[¶4] 4 Against thee, against thee only, have I sinned, And that which was displeasing in thy sight have I done; That thou mayest be justified when thou speakest, And be pure in giving judgment.

[¶5] 5 Behold in iniquity I was born, And in sin conceive me did my mother.

[¶6] 6 Behold, truth thou hast loved in the inmost parts, And in secret, wisdom thou hast made me know.

[¶7] 7 Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

[¶8] 8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; And exult shall the bones which thou hast broken.

[¶9] 9 Hide thy face from my sins, And all my iniquities blot out.

[¶10] 10 A heart [that is] clean create in me, O God! And a spirit [that is] right renew in my inward parts.

[¶11] 11 Cast me not away from thy face, And the Spirit of thy holiness take not from me.

[¶12] 12 Restore to me the joy of thy salvation, And with a free spirit uphold me.

[¶13] 13 I will teach transgressors thy ways, the ungodly to time shall be converted.

[¶14] 14 Deliver me from bloods, O God! O God of my salvation! And sing aloud shall my tongue of thy righteousness.

[¶15] 15 O Lord! my lips do thou open, And my mouth shall show forth thy praise.

[¶16] 16 For thou wilt not accept a sacrifice; Though I should give a burnt-offering, it would not please thee.

[¶17] 17 The sacrifices of God are an afflicted spirit: A heart afflicted and contrite, O God! thou wilt not despise.

[¶18] 18 Do good in thy good pleasure to Zion; Build thou the walls of Jerusalem.

[¶19] 19 Then shalt thou accept the sacrifices of righteousness, The burnt-offering and oblation; Then shall come upon thy altar calves.