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Bible / Psalms

Psalms 50

Douay-Rheims Bible, Challoner revision (1749–1752), the traditional Catholic English Bible, translated from the Latin Vulgate. If you read a modern Bible, this is the same Scripture in older English; some names are spelled differently (Cesarea for Caesarea, Apocalypse for Revelation). About this translation

1 Unto the end, a psalm of David,

2 When Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had sinned with Bethsabee. [2 Kings 12.]

3 Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy great mercy. And according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my iniquity.

4 Wash me yet more from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

5 For I know my iniquity, and my sin is always before me.

6 To thee only have I sinned, and have done evil before thee: that thou mayst be justified in thy words, and mayst overcome when thou art judged.

7 For behold I was conceived in iniquities; and in sins did my mother conceive me.

8 For behold thou hast loved truth: the uncertain and hidden things of thy wisdom thou hast made manifest to me.

9 Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be cleansed: thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow.

10 To my hearing thou shalt give joy and gladness: and the bones that have been humbled shall rejoice.

11 Turn away thy face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.

12 Create a clean heart in me, O God: and renew a right spirit within my bowels.

13 Cast me not away from thy face; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

14 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and strengthen me with a perfect spirit.

15 I will teach the unjust thy ways: and the wicked shall be converted to thee.

16 Deliver me from blood, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall extol thy justice.

17 O Lord, thou wilt open my lips: and my mouth shall declare thy praise.

18 For if thou hadst desired sacrifice, I would indeed have given it: with burnt offerings thou wilt not be delighted.

19 A sacrifice to God is an afflicted spirit: a contrite and humbled heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

20 Deal favourably, O Lord, in thy good will with Sion; that the walls of Jerusalem may be built up.

21 Then shalt thou accept the sacrifice of justice, oblations and whole burnt offerings: then shall they lay calves upon thy altar.

This chapter in the Catechism and the early Church

Where the Catechism of the Catholic Church cites these verses (from its footnotes on vatican.va), and where the earliest Church Fathers quote them (Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1, public domain). Short quotes only; follow the links for the full text. The Catechism uses modern verse numbers and psalm numbers (one higher than Douay-Rheims for most psalms), so these are listed by chapter.

  1. Psalm 51:1 in modern Bibles
    Read the Fathers

    • “The sacrifice [acceptable] to God is a bruised spirit; a broken and a contrite heart God will not despise.”

      Quoted in First Letter to the Corinthians, St. Clement of Rome (c. AD 96), Chapter XVIII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1

  2. Psalm 51:4 in modern BiblesCCC 431 CCC 1850
    Read the Catechism
    • CCC 431 “In the history of salvation God was not content to deliver Israel "out of the house of bondage" by bringing them out…”
    • CCC 1850 “Sin is an offense against God: "Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in your sight."…”
  3. Psalm 51:12 in modern BiblesCCC 298 CCC 431
    Read the Catechism and Fathers
    • CCC 298 “Since God could create everything out of nothing, he can also, through the Holy Spirit, give spiritual life to sinners by creating…”
    • CCC 431 “In the history of salvation God was not content to deliver Israel "out of the house of bondage" by bringing them out…”

    • “This Spirit did David ask for the human race, saying, "And stablish me with Thine all-governing Spirit;”

      Quoted in Against Heresies, Book III, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XVII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1

  4. Psalm 51:17 in modern BiblesCCC 1428
    Read the Catechism and Fathers
    • CCC 1428 “Christ's call to conversion continues to resound in the lives of Christians. This second conversion is an uninterrupted task for the whole…”

    • “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.”

      Quoted in First Letter to the Corinthians, St. Clement of Rome (c. AD 96), Chapter LII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1

    • “The sacrifice of God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart the Lord will not despise.”

      Quoted in Against Heresies, Book IV, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XVII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1

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A modern English Catholic translation will be added once its publisher grants permission.