King James Version

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.

Study

Hebrew

Tap a word to see its meaning. Words run left to right in English reading order.

לַמְנַצֵּ֗חַlamnatsechato excelנָצַחpreposition, with the article, verb, piel, participle, absolute — “to excel”, a verb used as a describing wordH5329properly, to glitter from afar, i.e. to be eminent (as a superintendent, especially of the Temple services and its music); to be permanentexcel, chief musician (singer), oversee(-r), set forward.מִזְמ֥וֹרmizmorpsalmמִזְמוֹרnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “psalm”, the ordinary formH4210properly, instrumental music; by implication, a poem set to notespsalm.לְדָוִֽדledavidto Davidדָּוִדpreposition, noun, proper name — “to David”H1732David, the youngest son of JesseDavid.חָנֵּ֣נִיchanenibeseechחָנַןverb, qal, imperative, 2nd person, masculine, singular, suffix, pronominal, 1st person, common, singular — “beseech”, a commandH2603properly, to bend or stoop in kindness to an inferior; to favor, bestow; causatively to implore (i.e. move to favor by petition)beseech, [idiom] fair, (be, find, shew) favour(-able), be (deal, give, grant (gracious(-ly), intreat, (be) merciful, have (shew) mercy (on, upon), have pity upon, pray, make supplication, [idiom] very.אֱלֹהִ֣יםelohimGodאֱלֹהִיםnoun, common, masculine, plural, absolute — “God”, the ordinary formH430gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlativeangels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty.כְּחַסְדֶּ֑ךָkechasdekhaas kindnessחֵסֵדpreposition, noun, common, masculine, singular, construct, suffix, pronominal, 2nd person, masculine, singular — “as kindness”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH2617kindness; by implication (towards God) piety; rarely (by opposition) reproof, or (subject.) beautyfavour, good deed(-liness, -ness), kindly, (loving-) kindness, merciful (kindness), mercy, pity, reproach, wicked thing.כְּרֹ֥בkerovas abundanceרֹבpreposition, noun, common, both genders, singular, construct — “as abundance”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH7230abundance (in any respect)abundance(-antly), all, [idiom] common (sort), excellent, great(-ly, -ness, number), huge, be increased, long, many, more in number, most, much, multitude, plenty(-ifully), [idiom] very (age).רַ֝חֲמֶ֗יךָrachameykhacompassionרַחַםnoun, common, masculine, plural, construct, suffix, pronominal, 2nd person, masculine, singular — “compassion”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH7356compassion (in the plural); by extension, the womb (as cherishing the fetus); by implication, a maidenbowels, compassion, damsel, tender love, (great, tender) mercy, pity, womb.מְחֵ֣הmechehreach untoמָחָהverb, qal, imperative, 2nd person, masculine, singular — “reach unto”, a commandH4229properly, to stroke or rub; by implication, to erase; also to smooth (as if with oil), i.e. grease or make fat; also to touch, i.e. reach toabolish, blot out, destroy, full of marrow, put out, reach unto, [idiom] utterly, wipe (away, out).פְשָׁעָֽיfeshaayrebellionפֶּשַׁעnoun, common, masculine, plural, construct, suffix, pronominal, 1st person, common, singular — “rebellion”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH6588a revolt (national, moral or religious)rebellion, sin, transgression, trespass.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

(51-1) For the Leader. A Psalm of David; (51-2) When Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bath-sheba. (51-3) Be gracious unto me, O God, according to Thy mercy; according to the multitude of Thy compassions blot out my transgressions.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

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

Young’s Literal Translation

To the Overseer. — A Psalm of David, in the coming in 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.

World English Bible

Have mercy on me, God, according to your loving kindness. According to the multitude of your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.

Darby Translation

Be gracious unto me, O God, according to thy loving-kindness; according to the abundance of thy tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.

Douay-Rheims

Unto the end, understanding for David,

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

For the end, a Psalm of David,

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Εἰς τὸ τέλος, ψαλμὸς τῷ Δαυὶδ,