Psalm 51

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Psalms • תהילים (Tehilim)

Psalm 23 • Psalm 51 • Psalm 67 Psalm 69 • Psalm 89 • Psalm 91 Psalm 95 • Psalm 96 • Psalm 98 Psalm 100 • Psalm 103 • Psalm 104 Psalm 109 • Psalms 113-118 • Psalm 119 Psalm 130 • Psalm 137 • Psalm 143 Psalm 151 • Psalms 152–155

Complete Psalms 1–150

King James version American Standard version World English version Wycliffe version

Psalm 51 (Greek numbering: Psalm 50), traditionally referred to as the Miserere, its Latin incipit, is one of the penitential psalms. It begins:

Have mercy on me, O God

Many psalms include introductory text in the manuscript attributing it to a particular author and sometimes to an occasion. Based on texts of this Psalm, the New King James Version of the Bible introduces it with these words: "To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba." Traditional Christians typically take this at face value, but higher criticism has identified groups of psalms having separate authors, this being amongst them.

As a penitential psalm, it is one of the most frequently used psalms in the Eastern Orthodox Church (where it is numbered Psalm 50). It is typically included during the Mystery of Repentance (corresponding to the sacrament of confession), in personal daily prayers, and many of the liturgical services. Verse 15 is recited as a preface to the Amidah, the central prayer in the Jewish liturgy. In the Coptic Church's Book of Hours (the Agpeya), it is recited at every office throughout the day as a prayer of confession and repentence. Psalm 51 is associated with Ash Wednesday.^[1] In Roman Catholic use, Verse 7 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.

The psalm's opening words in Latin, Miserere mei, Deus, have led to its being called the Miserere. It is often known by this name in musical settings.

Contents 1 Musical settings 2 Revised Standard version 3 King James version 4 See also 5 References 6 Notes 7 External links

[edit] Musical settings

The Miserere was a frequently-used text in Catholic liturgical music before Vatican II. 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.^[2] 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 was burned at the stake just five years before. 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.^[3] Antonio Vivaldi may have written a setting or settings, but such composition(s) have been lost, with only two introductory motets remaining.

One of the best-known settings of the Miserere is the 17th century version by Roman School composer Gregorio Allegri. According to a famous 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. He went back a day or two later with his draft to correct some errors.^[4]

Modern composers who have written notable settings of the Miserere include Michael Nyman, Arvo Pärt, and Henryk Mikołaj Górecki.

[edit] Revised Standard version

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.

1. Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy steadfast love; according to thy abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
2. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!
3. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.
4. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in thy sight, so that thou art justified in thy sentence and blameless in thy judgment.
5. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6. Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward being; therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.
7. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8. Fill me with joy and gladness; let the bones which thou hast broken rejoice.
9. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.
10. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.
11. Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy holy Spirit from me.
12. Restore to me the joy of thy salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.
13. Then I will teach transgressors thy ways, and sinners will return to thee.
14. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of thy deliverance.
15. O Lord, open thou my lips, and my mouth shall show forth thy praise.
16. For thou hast no delight in sacrifice; were I to give a burnt offering, thou wouldst not be pleased.
17. The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
18. Do good to Zion in thy good pleasure; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem,
19. Then wilt thou delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on thy altar.

[edit] King James version

1. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
2. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
3. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
4. Against 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.
5. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6. Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
7. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
9. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
10. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
11. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
12. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
13. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
14. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
15. O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
16. For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
17. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
18. Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
19. Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

[edit] See also

• Benefit of Clergy - A.K.A The 'Neck Verse'

[edit] References

• John Caldwell: "Miserere", Stanley Boorman, "Sources: MS", Stanley Sadie, "Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus"; Grove Music Online, ed. L. Macy (Accessed November 25, 2006), (subscription access)
• Patrick Macey, Bonfire Songs: Savonarola's Musical Legacy. Oxford, Clarendon Press. 1998. ISBN 0-19-816669-9
• This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.

[edit] Notes

[edit] External links

• Tehillim - Psalms 51 (Judaica Press) translation with Rashi's commentary at Chabad.org