Psalms 51 · Verse 4

Psalms 51:4

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.
Psalms 51:4, King James Version

Psalms 51:4 in other translations

BSBAgainst You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You may be proved right when You speak and blameless when You judge.
WEBAgainst 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.
ASVAgainst 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 clear when thou judgest.
YLTAgainst Thee, Thee only, I have sinned, And done the evil thing in Thine eyes, So that Thou art righteous in Thy words, Thou art pure in Thy judging.
DARBYAgainst thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done what is evil in thy sight; that thou mayest be justified when thou speakest, be clear when thou judgest.
BBEAgainst you, you only, have I done wrong, working that which is evil in your eyes; so that your words may be seen to be right, and you may be clear when you are judging.
WebsterAgainst thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mayest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

What does Psalms 51:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 51:1-4

Psa 51:1-19. On the occasion, compare 2Sa 11:12. The Psalm illustrates true repentance, in which are comprised conviction, confession, sorrow, prayer for mercy, and purposes of amendment, and it is accompanied by a lively faith. 1-4. A plea for mercy is a confession of guilt. blot out--as from a register. transgressions--literally, "rebellions" (Psa 19:13; 32:1).

Read the full comment on Psalms 51:1-4 →

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned - This verse is supposed to show the impropriety of affixing the above title to this Psalm. It could not have been composed on account of the matter with Bath-sheba and the murder of Uriah; for, surely, these sins could not be said to have been committed against God Only, if we take the words of this verse in their common acceptation. That was a public sin, grievous, and against society at large, as well as against the peace, honor, comfort, and life of an innocent, brave, and patriotic man. This is readily granted: but see below. That thou mightest be justified when thou speakest - Perhaps, to save the propriety of the title, we might understand the verse thus: David, being king, was not liable to be called to account by any of his subjects; nor was there any authority in the land by which he could be judged and punished. In this respect, God Alone was greater than the king; and to him Alone, as king, he was responsible. Nam quando rex deliquit, Soli Deo reus est; guia hominem non habet qui ejus facta dijudicet, says Cassiodorus. "For when a king transgresses, he is accountable to God Only; for there is no person who has authority to take cognizance of his conduct." On this very maxim, which is a maxim in all countries, David might say, Against thee only have I sinned. "I cannot be called to the bar of my subjects; but I arraign myself before thy bar. They can neither judge nor condemn me; but thou canst: and such are my crimes that thou wilt be justified in the eyes of all men, and cleared of all severity, shouldst thou inflict upon me the heaviest punishment." This view,of the subject will reconcile the Psalm to the title. As to the eighteenth and nineteenth verses, we shall consider them in their own place; and probably find that the objection taken from them has not much weight.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 51:1-6

Chapter Outline The psalmist prays for mercy, humbly confessing and lamenting his sins. (1-6) He pleads for pardon, that he may promote the glory of God and the conversion of sinners. (7-15) God is pleased with a contrite heart, A prayer for the prosperity of Zion. (16-19) Verses 1-6 David, being convinced of his sin, poured out his soul to God in prayer for mercy and grace. Whither should backsliding children…

Read the full comment on Psalms 51:1-6 →

Psalms 51:4 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

לְךָ֤le.Khato you
לְבַדְּךָ֨\׀le.va.de.Khato alone youH905
חָטָאתִי֮cha.ta.TiI have sinnedH2398
וְהָרַ֥עve.ha.Ra'and the evilH7451
בְּעֵינֶ֗יךָbe.'ei.Nei.khain view yourH5869
עָ֫שִׂ֥יתִי'a.Si.tiI have doneH6213
לְ֭מַעַןLe.ma.'anso thatH4616
תִּצְדַּ֥קtitz.Dakyou may be justH6663
בְּדָבְרֶ֗ךָbe.da.ve.Re.khawhen speaking youH1696
תִּזְכֶּ֥הtiz.Kehyou will be pureH2135
בְשָׁפְטֶֽךָ\׃ve.sha.fe.Te.khawhen judging youH8199

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 51:4

  • 2 Samuel 12:13-14

    And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said unto David, The Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die. Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.

  • Luke 15:21

    And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

  • Genesis 39:9

    There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?

  • Genesis 20:6

    And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.

  • Romans 3:4

    God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

  • Acts 17:31

    Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

  • Revelation 16:5

    And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus.

  • Romans 2:5

    But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;

  • Leviticus 6:2-7

    If a soul sin, and commit a trespass against the Lord, and lie unto his neighbour in that which was delivered him to keep, or in fellowship, or in a thing taken away by violence, or hath deceived his neighbour; Or have found that which was lost, and lieth concerning it, and sweareth falsely; in any of all these that a man doeth, sinning therein: Then it shall be, because he hath sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took violently away, or the thing which he hath deceitfully gotten, or that which was delivered him to keep, or the lost thing which he found, Or all that about which he hath sworn falsely; he shall even restore it in the principal, and shall add the fifth part more thereto, and give it unto him to whom it appertaineth, in the day of his trespass offering. …

  • Genesis 9:6

    Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.

  • Psalms 50:6

    And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself. Selah.

  • Luke 7:29

    And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Against.
Ge 9:6; 20:6; 39:9; Le 5:19; 6:2-7; 2Sa 12:9,10,13,14; Jas 2:9,11
evil.
Ge 38:7; 2Ki 17:17; 21:6; Lu 15:21
that thou.
50:4,6; Lu 7:29; Ro 3:4
when.
Ac 17:31; Ro 2:5; Re 15:3,4; 16:5; 19:11

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Psalms 51:3

    For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

  • Psalms 51:4

    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.

  • Psalms 51:5

    Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Read all of Psalms 51

Psalms 51:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		A ti, á ti solo he pecado, y he hecho lo malo delante de tus ojos: porque seas reconocido justo en tu palabra, y tenido por puro en tu juicio.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Lave-moi pleinement de mon iniquité, et purifie-moi de mon péché.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Gegen dich, gegen dich allein habe ich gesündigt, und ich habe getan, was böse ist in deinen Augen; damit du gerechtfertigt werdest, wenn du redest, rein erfunden, wenn du richtest.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Tota die injustitiam cogitavit lingua tua; sicut novacula acuta fecisti dolum.