Psalm 51

Psalm 51 is based on the incident recorded in 2 Samuel, chapters 11–12.^[3] David's confession is regarded as a model for repentance in both Judaism and Christianity.^[4][5][6]

The Midrash Tehillim states that one who acknowledges that they have sinned and is fearful and prays to God about it, as David did, will be forgiven. However, one who tries to ignore their sin will be punished by God.^[7] The Talmud (Yoma 86b) cites verse 5 in the Hebrew (verse 3 in English versions), "My sin is always before me", as a reminder to the penitent to maintain continual vigilance in the area in which they transgressed, even after they have confessed and been absolved.^[8]

Charles Spurgeon says Psalm 51 is called "The Sinner's Guide", as it shows the sinner how to return to God's grace.^[9] Athanasius would recommend that this chapter be recited each night by some of his disciples.^[9] According to James Montgomery Boice, this psalm was recited by both Thomas More and Lady Jane Grey at their executions.^[3]

Parallels between Psalm 51 and the Ancient Egyptian ritual text Opening of the mouth ceremony have been pointed out by scholar Benjamin Urrutia. These include:^[10]

• Mentions of ritual washing with special herbs (verses 2, 7)
• Restoration of broken bones (verse 8)
• "O Lord, open my lips" (verse 15)
• Sacrifices (verses 16, 17, 19)

The following table shows the Hebrew text^[11][12] of the Psalm with vowels alongside an English translation based upon the JPS 1917 translation (now in the public domain).

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise.

— Psalm 51:19 (verse 17 in many modern English translations)^[13]

Verse 19 in the Hebrew (verse 17 in many modern English translations) suggests that God desires a "broken and contrite heart" more than he does sacrificial offerings. The idea of using brokenheartedness as a way to reconnect to God was emphasized in numerous teachings by Rebbe Nachman of Breslov.^[14] In Sichot HaRan #41, Nachman taught: "It would be very good to be brokenhearted all day. But for the average person, this can easily degenerate into depression. You should therefore set aside some time each day for heartbreak. You should isolate yourself with a broken heart before God for a given time. But the rest of the day you should be joyful".^[14]

Several verses from Psalm 51 are regular parts of Jewish liturgy. Verses (in Hebrew) 3, 4, 9, 13, 19, 20, and 21 are said in Selichot. Verses 9, 12, and 19 are said during Tefillat Zakkah prior to the Kol Nidrei service on Yom Kippur eve. Verse 17, "O Lord, open my lips", is recited as a preface to the Amidah in all prayer services. Verse 20 is said by Ashkenazi Jews before the removal of the Sefer Torah from the ark on Shabbat and Yom Tov morning; it is also said in the Atah Horaisa ("You have been shown") prayer recited before opening the ark on Simchat Torah.^[15] In the Sephardi liturgy, Psalm 51 is one of the additional psalms recited on Yom Kippur night.^[16]

Verse 4 is part of the Ushpizin ceremony on Sukkot.^[15]

In the Siddur Avodas Yisroel, Psalm 51 is the Song of the Day for Shabbat Parah and Shabbat Ki Tavo. This psalm is also said on Wednesday nights after the recital of Aleinu in Maariv.^[15]

The entire psalm is part of Tikkun Chatzot.^[17] It is also recited as a prayer for forgiveness.^[18]

Verse 4 is quoted in Romans 3:4.^[19][20]

In the Eastern Orthodox Church, Psalm 50 (Psalm 51 in the Masoretic Text) is an important penitential Psalm that is read several times every day: at Compline, the Midnight Office, Matins, the Third Hour, and in many traditional rules for private morning and evening prayer. It is read silently by the priest at the Divine Liturgy, and it is also part of the rite of Holy Unction and the penitential service blessing a second marriage. Psalm 50/51 is part of the seventh Kathisma division of the Psalter, read at Matins on Tuesday mornings, as well as on Mondays and Thursdays during Lent, at the Third Hour and Matins, respectively.^[21]

In the Agpeya, the Coptic Church's book of hours, it is recited at every office throughout the day as a prayer of confession and repentance.

In Western Christianity, Psalm 51 (using the Masoretic numbering) is also used liturgically.

In the Catholic Church this psalm may be assigned by a priest to a penitent as a penance after Confession. Verse 7 of the psalm is traditionally sung as the priest sprinkles holy water over the congregation before Mass, in a rite known as the Asperges me, the first two words of the verse in Latin. For this, the priest uses an aspergillum, held in the right hand, while an acolyte holds a pail, also called aspersorium or situla.^[22] This reference lends a striking significance to the Mass as sacrifice, given that hyssop was used for the smearing of blood on the lintels at the first Passover.

In the Divine Office, it was traditionally said at Lauds on all ferias; the 1911 reform restricted this use to the ferias of Advent, Septuagesima, and Lent, most vigils, as well as the Sundays from Septuagesima Sunday to Palm Sunday inclusive and the ember days of Advent, Lent, and September. It is otherwise said as part of the weekly cycle on Wednesday at Matins. In the Liturgy of the Hours, it is prayed during Lauds (Morning Prayer) every Friday.

A section of verse 17 is often used as the invitatory antiphon the Liturgy of the Hours.

Parts of Psalm 51 are used as a responsorial psalm in both the Revised Common Lectionary and the Roman Catholic Lectionary^[23] on Ash Wednesday and on other days.

In the Catholic Church there is a 3-year indulgence for each recitation and a plenary indulgence if the prayer is recited for a month. The indulgence can also be spent in favor of the souls in Purgatory.^[24]

In the Church of England's Book of Common Prayer, Psalm 51 is appointed to be read on the morning of the tenth day of the month.^[25]

Psalm 51 was used for centuries as a judicial test of reading ability. This practice began as a means by which a defendant could claim to be a clergyman, and thus subject only to ecclesiastical courts and not subject to the power of civil courts. This was called pleading the benefit of clergy. The Biblical passage traditionally used for the literacy test was the first verse of Psalm 51. Thus, an illiterate person who had memorized this psalm could also claim the benefit of clergy, and Psalm 51 became known as the "neck-verse" because knowing it could save one's neck by transferring one's case from a secular court, where hanging was a likely sentence, to an ecclesiastical court, where both the methods of trial and the sentences given were more lenient, for example, a sentence of penance.^[26]

It has been suggested that verse 7 "Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean:" is an early example of the medical use of Penicillium, the initial source of penicillin.^[27]

Possibly since the Middle Ages (and recorded in medical literature as early as the 16th century), the supplication and submission conveyed in the psalm has been linked by some common people with the pain and despair of a patient suffering from fecal vomiting, which received the vulgar name "Miserere mei" or "Miserere", inspired by verse 3 ("Miserere mei, Deus, secundum misericordiam tuam").^[28] The condition is a common symptom of intestinal obstruction, which, without urgent surgical treatment, precedes the patient's death.^[29]

Psalm 51 was a frequently used text in Catholic liturgical music before the Second Vatican Council. Most of the settings, which are often used at Tenebrae, are in a simple falsobordone style. During the Renaissance many composers wrote settings. The earliest known polyphonic setting, probably dating from the 1480s, is by Johannes Martini, a composer working in the Este court in Ferrara.^[30] The extended polyphonic setting by Josquin des Prez, probably written in 1503/1504 in Ferrara, was likely inspired by the prison meditation Infelix ego by Girolamo Savonarola, who had been burned at the stake just five years before.^{[citation needed]} Later in the 16th century Orlande de Lassus wrote an elaborate setting as part of his Penitential Psalms, and Palestrina, Andrea Gabrieli, Giovanni Gabrieli, and Carlo Gesualdo also wrote settings.^[31]

Heinrich Schütz set Psalm 53 in a metred version in German, "Erbarm dich mein, o Herre Gott", SWV 150, as part of the Becker Psalter, first published in 1628. Antonio Vivaldi may have written one or more settings, but such composition(s) have been lost, with only two introductory motets remaining.

One of the best-known settings of Psalm 51 is the 17th century version by Roman School composer Gregorio Allegri.^[32] According to a popular story, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, aged only fourteen, heard the piece performed once, on April 11, 1770, and after going back to his lodging for the night was able to write out the entire score from memory.^[32] He went back a day or two later with his draft to correct some errors.^[33] That the final chorus comprises a nine-part harmony, with a five-voice choir and a four-voice choir singing simultaneously, underscores the prodigiousness of the young Mozart's musical genius. However, the only source of this story is a letter written by Leopold Mozart to his wife on April 14, 1770: and doubt has been cast on it, as Allegri's setting was known in London, which Mozart had visited in 1764–65.

The piece is also noteworthy in having been transcribed erroneously by William Smith Rockstro as having numerous high Cs in the treble part.^[34] This interpolated version is nevertheless extremely popular and widely recorded.

Four settings were written by Marc-Antoine Charpentier (H.157, H.173, H.219, H.193-H.193 a). Louis-Nicolas Clérambault set one Miserere for soloists, chorus and continuo (organ) (date unknown). Charles-Hubert Gervais set one Miserere (1723–1744), Sébastien de Brossard set one Miserere in 1688–89, André Campra set one Miserere in 1726 and many by Michel-Richard de Lalande (S.15, S.27, S.87, S.41/2, S.32/17, S.6/3), François Giroust, set 5 Miserere, Costanzo Festa, Johann Sebastian Bach, Giovanni Battista Pergolesi and Saverio Selecchy. Jan Dismas Zelenka wrote two elaborate settings (ZWV 56 and ZWV 57).

Modern composers who have written notable settings of Psalm 51 include Michael Nyman, Arvo Pärt, and James MacMillan. References in secular popular music include the Antestor song "Mercy Lord", from the album Martyrium (1994), "In Manus Tuas" (Salvation 2003) by the group Funeral Mist, "White As Snow" (Winter 2008) by Jon Foreman, the song "Restore To Me" by Mac Powell Begin 2024 the Dutch women composer Annemieke Lustenhouwer completed a version for mixed four-part choir with harp accompaniment.

Verses 12–13 have been set to music as a popular Jewish inspirational song.^{[by whom?][year needed][35]} Titled Lev Tahor ("A pure heart"), this song is commonly sung at Seudah Shlishit (the third Shabbat meal).^[36]

• Benefit of clergy#The Miserere
• Kentish Psalm
• Penitential Psalms

• John Caldwell: "Miserere", Stanley Boorman, "Sources: MS", Stanley Sadie, "Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus"; Grove Music Online, ed. L. Macy (Accessed November 25, 2006), (subscription required)
• Patrick Macey, Bonfire Songs: Savonarola's Musical Legacy. Oxford, Clarendon Press. 1998. ISBN 0-19-816669-9

• Pieces with text from Psalm 51: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
• Psalm 51: Free scores at the Choral Public Domain Library (ChoralWiki)
• Text of Psalm 51 according to the 1928 Psalter
• Psalms Chapter 51 text in Hebrew and English, mechon-mamre.org
• Tehillim — Psalms 51 (Judaica Press) translation with Rashi's commentary at Chabad.org
• For the leader. A psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came to him after he had gone in to Bathsheba. / Have mercy on me, God, in accord with your merciful love text and footnotes, usccb.org United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
• Psalm 51:1 introduction and text, biblestudytools.com
• Psalm 51 – Restoration of a Broken and Contrite King enduringword.com
• Psalm 51 / Refrain: The sacrifice of God is a broken spirit. Church of England
• Psalm 51 at biblegateway.com
• Hymns for Psalm 51 hymnary.org
• Nova Vulgata version of Psalm 51(50)