Testimonia — Early Christian Bible Commentary

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Psalms 51

1Have mercy on me, God, according to your loving kindness. According to the multitude of your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.

2Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity. Cleanse me from my sin.

3For I know my transgressions. My sin is constantly before me.

4Against you, and you only, I have sinned, and done that which is evil in your sight, so you may be proved right when you speak, and justified when you judge.

5Behold, I was born in iniquity. My mother conceived me in sin.

6Behold, you desire truth in the inward parts. You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

7Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

8Let me hear joy and gladness, that the bones which you have broken may rejoice.

9Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all of my iniquities.

10Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.

11Don’t throw me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.

12Restore to me the joy of your salvation. Uphold me with a willing spirit.

13Then I will teach transgressors your ways. Sinners will be converted to you.

14Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, the God of my salvation. My tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.

15Lord, open my lips. My mouth will declare your praise.

16For you don’t delight in sacrifice, or else I would give it. You have no pleasure in burnt offering.

17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. O God, you will not despise a broken and contrite heart.

18Do well in your good pleasure to Zion. Build the walls of Jerusalem.

19Then you will delight in the sacrifices of righteousness, in burnt offerings and in whole burnt offerings. Then they will offer bulls on your altar.

Early Christian commentary

Late 1st century AD (traditionally c. 95–100) | Clement of Rome

But what shall we say concerning David, to whom such testimony was borne, and of whom God said, “I have found a man after mine own heart, David the son of Jesse; and in everlasting mercy have I anointed him?” Yet this very man saith to God, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, according to Thy great mercy; and according to the multitude of Thy compassions, blot out my transgression. Wash me still more from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge mine iniquity, and my sin is ever before me. Against Thee only have I sinned, and done that which is evil in Thy sight; that Thou mayest be justified in Thy sayings, and mayest overcome when Thou art judged. For, behold, I was conceived in transgressions, and in sins did my mother conceive me. For, behold, Thou hast loved truth; the secret and hidden things of wisdom hast Thou shown me. Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be cleansed; Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Thou shalt make me to hear joy and gladness; my bones, which have been humbled, shall exult. Turn away Thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Thy salvation, and establish me by Thy governing Spirit. I will teach transgressors Thy ways, and the ungodly shall be converted unto Thee. Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation: my tongue shall exult in Thy righteousness. O Lord, Thou shalt open my mouth, and my lips shall show forth Thy praise. For if Thou hadst desired sacrifice, I would have given it; Thou wilt not delight in burnt-offerings. The sacrifice [acceptable] to God is a bruised spirit; a broken and a contrite heart God will not despise.”

Commentary · First Epistle to the Corinthians, Chapter XVIII · Original source · The Writings of the Apostolic Fathers (T. & T. Clark, 1870), edited and translated by Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson; independent electronic transcription: David King and the Online Proofreading Team, Project Gutenberg ebook 77576. · Licence · Source revision · Whitespace normalized; source pagination and footnote reference markers removed. English wording unchanged.

Late 1st century AD (traditionally c. 95–100) | Clement of Rome

The Lord, brethren, stands in need of nothing; and He desires nothing of any one, except that confession be made to Him. For, says the elect David, “I will confess unto the Lord; and that will please Him more than a young bullock that hath horns and hoofs. Let the poor see it, and be glad.” And again he saith, “Offer unto God the sacrifice of praise, and pay thy vows unto the Most High. And call upon me in the day of thy trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.” For “the sacrifice of God is a broken spirit.”

Commentary · First Epistle to the Corinthians, Chapter LII · Original source · The Writings of the Apostolic Fathers (T. & T. Clark, 1870), edited and translated by Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson; independent electronic transcription: David King and the Online Proofreading Team, Project Gutenberg ebook 77576. · Licence · Source revision · Whitespace normalized; source pagination and footnote reference markers removed. English wording unchanged.

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