Psalms 51:12-15
12 Let me again experience the joy of your deliverance.
Sustain me by giving me the desire to obey. ▼
▼tn Heb “and [with] a willing spirit sustain me.” The psalmist asks that God make him the kind of person who willingly obeys the divine commandments. The imperfect verbal form is used here to express the psalmist’s wish or request.
13 Then I will teach ▼
▼tn The cohortative expresses the psalmist’s resolve. This may be a vow or promise. If forgiven, the psalmist will “repay” the Lord by declaring God’s mercy and motivating other sinners to repent.
rebels your merciful ways, ▼▼tn Heb “your ways.” The word “merciful” is added for clarification. God’s “ways” are sometimes his commands, but in this context, where the teaching of God’s ways motivates repentance (see the next line), it is more likely that God’s merciful and compassionate way of dealing with sinners is in view. Thanksgiving songs praising God for his deliverance typically focus on these divine attributes (see Pss 34, 41, 116, 138).
and sinners will turn ▼
▼tn Or “return,” i.e., in repentance.
to you. 14 Rescue me from the guilt of murder, ▼
▼tn Heb “from bloodshed.” “Bloodshed” here stands by metonymy for the guilt which it produces.
O God, the God who delivers me. Then my tongue will shout for joy because of your righteousness. ▼
15 O Lord, give me the words. ▼
▼tn Heb “open my lips.” The imperfect verbal form is used here to express the psalmist’s wish or request.
Then my mouth will praise you. ▼
▼tn Heb “and my mouth will declare your praise.”
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