Mazmur 51:17-19

51:17 The sacrifices God desires are a humble spirit ¹  –

O God, a humble and repentant heart ²  you will not reject. ³ 

51:18 Because you favor Zion, do what is good for her! ⁴ 

Fortify ⁵  the walls of Jerusalem! ⁶ 

51:19 Then you will accept ⁷  the proper sacrifices, burnt sacrifices and whole offerings;

then bulls will be sacrificed ⁸  on your altar. ⁹ 

[51:17]  ¹ tn Heb “a broken spirit.”

[51:17]  ² tn Heb “a broken and crushed heart.”

[51:17]  ³ tn Or “despise.”

[51:18]  ⁴ tn Heb “do what is good for Zion in your favor.”

[51:18]  ⁵ tn Or “Build.” The imperfect verbal form is used here to express the psalmist’s wish or request.

[51:18]  ⁶ map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[51:19]  ⁷ tn Or “desire, take delight in.”

[51:19]  ⁸ tn Heb “then they will offer up bulls.” The third plural subject is indefinite.

[51:19]  ⁹ sn Verses 18-19 appear to reflect the exilic period, when the city’s walls lay in ruins and the sacrificial system had been disrupted.