David's Prayer of Repentance
Psalms 50
Following Nathan the prophet's visit to David after his sin with Bathsheba, David pleads for mercy and cleansing, confessing that he was conceived in sin and asking the Lord to create in him a clean heart and renew a right spirit within him. He declares that the sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken and humbled heart rather than burnt offerings, and prays for the good of Sion and the building of Jerusalem's walls.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
Thomson—
BrentonFor the end, a Psalm of David,
GreekΕἰς τὸ τέλος, ψαλμὸς τῷ Δαυὶδ,
KJV—
JPSFor the Leader. A Psalm of David;
2
Thomson—
Brentonwhen Nathan the prophet came to him, when he had gone in to Bersabee.
Greekἐν τῷ ἐλθεῖν πρὸς αὐτὸν Νάθαν τὸν προφήτην, ἡνίκα εἰσῆλθε πρὸς Βηρσαβεέ.
KJV—
JPSwhen Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bath-sheba.
3
ThomsonHAVE mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy great compassion: and according to the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out this my crime,
BrentonHave mercy upon me, O God, according to thy great mercy; and according to the multitude of thy compassions blot out my transgression.
GreekἘλέησον με ὁ Θεὸς κατὰ τὸ μέγα ἔλεός σου, καὶ κατὰ τὸ πλῆθος τῶν οἰκτιρμῶν σου ἐξάλειψον τὸ ἀνόμημά μου.
KJVHave mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
JPSBe gracious unto me, O God, according to Thy mercy; According to the multitude of Thy compassions blot out my transgressions.
4
Thomsonwash me thoroughly from this iniquity of mine; and purify me from this my sin.
BrentonWash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
GreekἘπιπλεῖον πλῦνόν με ἀπὸ τῆς ἀνομίας μου, καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς ἁμαρτίας μου καθάρισόν με.
KJVWash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
JPSWash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.
5
ThomsonFor I acknowledge my transgression; and my sin is continually before me.
BrentonFor I am conscious of mine iniquity; and my sin is continually before me.
GreekὍτι τὴν ἀνομίαν μου ἐγὼ γινώσκω, καὶ ἡ ἁμαρτία μου ἐνώπιόν μου ἐστὶ διαπαντός·
KJVFor I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
JPSFor I know my transgressions; And my sin is ever before me.
6
ThomsonAgainst Thee especially I have sinned; and in Thy sight done this evil. So that thou must be justified in thine acts, and must overcome, when thou art judged.
BrentonAgainst thee only have I sinned, and done evil before thee: that thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
GreekΣοὶ μόνῳ ἥμαρτον, καὶ τὸ πονηρὸν ἐνώπιόν σου ἐποίησα· ὅπως ἂν δικαιωθῇς ἐν τοῖς λόγοις σου, καὶ νικήσῃς ἐν τῷ κρίνεσθαί σε.
KJVAgainst thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
JPSAgainst Thee, Thee only, have I sinned, And done that which is evil in Thy sight; That Thou mayest be justified when Thou speakest, And be in the right when Thou judgest.
7
ThomsonFor behold I was born in iniquity; in sins my mother conceived me:
BrentonFor, behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sins did my mother conceive me.
GreekἸδοὺ γὰρ ἐν ἀνομίαις συνελήφθην, καὶ ἐν ἁμαρτίαις ἐκίσσησέ με ἡ μήτηρ μου.
KJVBehold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
JPSBehold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
8
Thomsonfor behold Thou lovedst truth; to me Thou hadst manifested the obscure and hidden things of Thy wisdom.
BrentonFor, behold, thou lovest truth: thou hast manifested to me the secret and hidden things of thy wisdom.
GreekἸδοὺ γὰρ ἀλήθειαν ἠγάπησας, τὰ ἄδηλα καὶ τὰ κρύφια τῆς σοφίας σου ἐδήλωσάς μοι.
KJVBehold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
JPSBehold, Thou desirest truth in the inward parts; make me, therefore, to know wisdom in mine inmost heart.
9
ThomsonSprinkle me with hyssop and I shall be purified; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
BrentonThou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be purified: thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow.
GreekῬαντιεῖς με ὑσσώπῳ καὶ καθαρισθήσομαι, πλυνεῖς με καὶ ὑπὲρ χιόνα λευκανθήσομαι.
KJVPurge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
JPSPurge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
10
ThomsonCause me to hear joy and gladness; let the bones, which have been humbled, rejoice.
BrentonThou shalt cause me to hear gladness and joy: the afflicted bones shall rejoice.
GreekἈκουτιεῖς με ἀγαλλίασιν καὶ εὐφροσύνην, ἀγαλλιάσονται ὀστᾶ τεταπεινωμένα.
KJVMake me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
JPSMake me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which Thou hast crushed may rejoice.
11
ThomsonO Turn away Thy face from my sins; and blot out all mine iniquities.
BrentonTurn away thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
GreekἈπόστρεψον τὸ πρόσωπόν σου ἀπὸ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν μου, καὶ πάσας τὰς ἀνομίας μου ἐξάλειψον.
KJVHide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
JPSHide Thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
12
ThomsonCreate in me, O God, a pure heart; and renew a right spirit within me.
BrentonCreate in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit in my inward parts.
GreekΚαρδίαν καθαρὰν κτίσον ἐν ἐμοὶ ὁ Θεὸς, καὶ πνεῦμα εὐθὲς ἐγκαίνισον ἐν τοῖς ἐγκάτοις μου.
KJVCreate in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
JPSCreate me a clean heart, O God; and renew a stedfast spirit within me.
13
ThomsonCast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy holy spirit from me.
BrentonCast me not away from thy presence; and remove not thy Holy Spirit from me.
GreekΜὴ ἀποῤῥίψῃς με ἀπὸ τοῦ προσώπου σου, καὶ τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιόν σου μὴ ἀντανέλῃς ἀπʼ ἐμοῦ.
KJVCast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
JPSCast me not away from Thy presence; and take not Thy holy spirit from me.
14
ThomsonRestore to me the joy of Thy salvation; and support me with a becoming spirit,
BrentonRestore to me the joy of thy salvation: establish me with thy directing Spirit.
GreekἈπόδος μοι τὴν ἀγαλλίασιν τοῦ σωτηρίου σου, πνεύματι ἡγεμονικῷ στήριξόν με.
KJVRestore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
JPSRestore unto me the joy of Thy salvation; and let a willing spirit uphold me.
15
Thomsonthat I may teach transgressors Thy ways, and sinners may turn to Thee.
BrentonThen will I teach transgressors thy ways; and ungodly men shall turn to thee.
GreekΔιδάξω ἀνόμους τὰς ὁδούς σου, καὶ ἀσεβεῖς ἐπὶ σὲ ἐπιστρέψουσι.
KJVThen will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
JPSThen will I teach transgressors Thy ways; and sinners shall return unto Thee. .
16
ThomsonDeliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation! That my tongue may with joy proclaim Thy forgiving mercy.
BrentonDeliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation: and my tongue shall joyfully declare thy righteousness.
GreekῬῦσαί με ἐξ αἱμάτων ὁ Θεὸς, ὁ Θεὸς τῆς σωτηρίας μου, ἀγαλλιάσεται ἡ γλῶσσά μου τὴν δικαιοσύνην σου.
KJVDeliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
JPSDeliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, Thou God of my salvation; so shall my tongue sing aloud of Thy righteousness.
17
ThomsonO Lord, open my lips, and my mouth may proclaim Thy praise.
BrentonO Lord, thou shalt open my lips; and my mouth shall declare thy praise.
GreekΚύριε, τὰ χείλη μου ἀνοίξεις, καὶ τὸ στόμα μου ἀναγγελεῖ τὴν αἴνεσίν σου.
KJVO Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
JPSO Lord, open Thou my lips; and my mouth shall declare Thy praise.
18
ThomsonHadst Thou desired sacrifice, I would have given it. In whole burnt offerings Thou wilt not take delight.
BrentonFor if thou desiredst sacrifice, I would have given it: thou wilt not take pleasure in whole-burnt-offerings.
GreekὍτι εἰ ἠθέλησας θυσίαν, ἔδωκα ἄν· ὁλοκαυτώματα οὐκ εὐδοκήσεις.
KJVFor thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
JPSFor Thou delightest not in sacrifice, else would I give it; Thou hast no pleasure in burnt-offering.
19
ThomsonThe sacrifice for God is a contrite spirit. A broken and an humble heart, thou, O God, wilt not despise.
BrentonSacrifice to God is a broken spirit: a broken and humbled heart God will not despise.
GreekΘυσία τῷ Θεῷ πνεῦμα συντετριμμένον, καρδίαν συντετριμμένην καὶ τεταπεινωμένην ὁ Θεὸς οὐκ ἐξουδενώσει.
KJVThe sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
JPSThe sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise.
20
ThomsonDeal favourably, O Lord, in Thy good pleasure, with Sion. And let the walls of Jerusalem be builded.
BrentonDo good, O Lord, to Sion in thy good pleasure; and let the walls of Jerusalem be built.
GreekἈγάθυνον, Κύριε, ἐν τῇ εὐδοκίᾳ σου τὴν Σιὼν, καὶ οἰκοδομηθήτω τὰ τείχη Ἱερουσαλήμ.
KJVDo good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
JPSDo good in Thy favour unto Zion; build Thou the walls of Jerusalem.
21
ThomsonThen wilt Thou be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness as an offering, and on Thine altar young bulls shall then be offered up as whole burnt offerings.
BrentonThen shalt thou be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, offering, and whole-burnt-sacrifices: then shall they offer calves upon thine altar.
GreekΤότε εὐδοκήσεις θυσίαν δικαιοσύνης, ἀναφορὰν, καὶ ὁλοκαυτώματα· τότε ἀνοίσουσιν ἐπὶ τὸ θυσιαστήριόν σου μόσχους.
KJVThen shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.
JPSThen wilt Thou delight in the sacrifices of righteousness, in burnt-offering and whole offering; Then will they offer bullocks upon Thine altar.