## Rashi on Psalms Chapter 51

###### Rashi on Psalms 51:5:1
[Rashi on Psalms 51:5:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Psalms/r/51:5:1)

**וְחַטָּאתִי נֶגְדִּי תָמִיד.** מִתּוֹךְ שֶׁאֲנִי מִתְחָרֵט וְדוֹאֵג עָלָיו, דּוֹמֶה לִי כְּאִלּוּ הוּא לְפָנַי תָּמִיד כָּל שָׁעָה:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**and my sin is always before me** Since I regret [my sin] and worry about it, it is as though it is constantly before me, always.


###### Rashi on Psalms 51:6:1
[Rashi on Psalms 51:6:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Psalms/r/51:6:1)

**לְךָ לְבַדְּךָ חָטָאתִי.** לְפִיכָךְ בְּיָדְךָ לִסְלֹחַ, וְאַף מַה שֶׁהֲרֵעוֹתִי לְאוּרִיָּה (שמואל ב יא) לֹא חָטָאתִי אֶלָּא לְךָ, שֶׁהִזְהַרְתָּ עַל הַדָּבָר:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**Against You alone have I sinned** Therefore, it is in Your power to forgive [me]. Even in my sin against Uriah, I sinned against You, for You warned against the matter.


###### Rashi on Psalms 51:6:2
[Rashi on Psalms 51:6:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Psalms/r/51:6:2)

**לְמַעַן תִּצְדַּק בְּדָבְרֶךָ.** כְּמוֹ בְּמִנְהָגְךָ (ס״א אינו), כֹּחַ הָיָה לִי לְהִתְגַּבֵּר עַל יִצְרִי אֶלָּא שֶׁלֹּא יֹאמְרוּ הָעֶבֶד נִצַּח אֶת רַבּוֹ, שֶׁאָמַרְתִּי לְפָנֶיךָ בְּחָנֵנִי וְנַסֵּנִי (תהלים כו:ב) וּבְחַנְתַּנִי וְלֹא נִמְצֵאתִי שָׁלֵם כְּדֵי שֶׁתִּצְדַּק אַתָּה וְלֹא אֲנִי (סנהדרין קז.). דָּבָר אַחֵר **לְמַעַן תִּצְדַּק בְּדָבְרֶךָ,** אִם תִּמְחֹל לִי, תִּצְדַּק בְּדִינְךָ לְנֹכַח כָּל הָרְשָׁעִים שֶׁאֵינָם שָׁבִים, שֶׁלֹּא יוּכְלוּ לוֹמַר כְּאִלּוּ עָשִׂינוּ תְּשׁוּבָה לֹא הוֹעַלְנוּ:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**in order that You be justified in Your conduct** like במנהגך, in Your conduct. I had the strength to overpower my evil inclination, but, so that they should not say, “The servant overpowered his master,”for I said to You (Ps. 26: 2), “Test me, O Lord, and try me,” and You tested me and I was not found perfect, in order that You should be justified and not I (Sanh. 107a). Another explanation: **in order that You be justified in Your conduct** If You forgive me, You will be justified in Your judgment against all the wicked who do not repent, so that they will not be able to say, “If we had repented, it would not have availed us.”


###### Rashi on Psalms 51:7:1
[Rashi on Psalms 51:7:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Psalms/r/51:7:1)

**הֵן בְּעָווֹן חוֹלָלְתִּי.** וְאֵיךְ לֹא אֶחֱטָא וְעִקַּר יְצִירָתִי עַל יְדֵי תַשְׁמִישׁ הוּא, שֶׁכַּמָּה עֲוֹנוֹת בָּאִים עַל יָדוֹ (ויקרא רבה יד:ה). דָּבָר אַחֵר: עִקַּר יְצִירָתִי מִזָּכָר וּנְקֵבָה, שֶׁכֻּלָּם מְלֵאִים עָוֹן. יֵשׁ מִדְרָשִׁים לְמִקְרָא זֶה, וְאֵינָם מִתְיַשְּׁבִים לְפִי עִנְיַן הַמְדַבֵּר בַּמִּזְמוֹר:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**Behold, with iniquity I was formed** Now how could I not sin when the main part of my creation was through coitus, the source of many iniquities? Another explanation: The main part of my creation is from a male and a female, both of whom are full of iniquity. There are many midrashim to this verse, but they do not fit the context of the psalm.


###### Rashi on Psalms 51:7:2
[Rashi on Psalms 51:7:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Psalms/r/51:7:2)

**יֶחֱמַתְנִי.** לְשׁוֹן חֲמִימוּת, כְּמוֹ (בראשית ל:לח) ״וַיֵּחַמְנָה הַצֹּאן בְּבֹאָן לִשְׁתּוֹת״ (ס״א אינו):

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**conceived me** Heb. יחמתני, an expression of heat, as (Gen. 30:38): “And they came into heat (ויחמנה) when they came to drink.”


###### Rashi on Psalms 51:8:1
[Rashi on Psalms 51:8:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Psalms/r/51:8:1)

**הֵן אֱמֶת חָפַצְתָּ בַטֻּחוֹת.** וַהֲרֵינִי מוֹדֶה עַל הָאֱמֶת, כִּי חָטָאתִי:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**Behold, You desired that truth be in the hidden places** and behold, I confess to the truth, that I sinned.


###### Rashi on Psalms 51:8:2
[Rashi on Psalms 51:8:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Psalms/r/51:8:2)

**בַּטֻּחוֹת.** אֵלּוּ כְּלָיוֹת, שֶׁהֵן חֲלָקוֹת. וּמְנַחֵם חִבְּרוֹ עִם ״כִּמְטַחֲוֵי קֶשֶׁת״ (בראשית כא:טז), וְכֵן ״מִי שָׁת בַּטֻּחוֹת חָכְמָה״ (איוב לח:לו). פִּתְרוֹנוֹ לְשׁוֹן מֶשֶׁךְ: כִּי כַּאֲשֶׁר יֵשׁ לַקֶּשֶׁת מֶשֶׁךְ, כֵּן יֵשׁ מֶשֶׁךְ לַדַּעַת (ס״א אינו):

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**in the hidden places** Heb. בטחות. These are the reins, which are smooth. Menachem (p. 97), however, associated it with (Gen. 21:16): “as it were a bowshot (כמטחוי קשת)”; and so (Job 38: 36): “Who placed wisdom in the inward parts (בטחות).” And their interpretation is an expression of drawing, for just as a bow is drawn, so is their yearning for knowledge.


###### Rashi on Psalms 51:8:3
[Rashi on Psalms 51:8:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Psalms/r/51:8:3)

**וּבְסָתוּם חָכְמָה תוֹדִיעֵנִי.** וּבַלֵּב שֶׁהוּא סָתוּם, הוֹדַעְתַּנִי חָכְמָה לְהִתְוַדּוֹת:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**and in the concealed part You teach me wisdom** And in the heart, which is concealed, You have taught me wisdom to confess.


###### Rashi on Psalms 51:9:1
[Rashi on Psalms 51:9:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Psalms/r/51:9:1)

**תְּחַטְּאֵנִי בְאֵזוֹב.** כְּמוֹ שֶׁמְּטַהֵר הַמְּצֹרָע וְטָמֵא מֵת (ויקרא יד:ד; במדבר יט:ו):

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**Purify me with a hyssop** As one purifies the “mezora” and the one who became unclean through contact with a corpse.


###### Rashi on Psalms 51:10:1
[Rashi on Psalms 51:10:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Psalms/r/51:10:1)

**תַּשְׁמִיעֵנִי שָׂשׂוֹן וְשִׂמְחָה.** סְלִיחַת הֶחָטְא:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**Make me hear joy and gladness** The forgiveness of the sin.


###### Rashi on Psalms 51:10:2
[Rashi on Psalms 51:10:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Psalms/r/51:10:2)

**עֲצָמוֹת דִּכִּיתָ.** כְּשֶׁכָּעַסְתָּ עָלַי:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**the bones that You crushed** when You were wroth with me.


###### Rashi on Psalms 51:12:1
[Rashi on Psalms 51:12:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Psalms/r/51:12:1)

**לֵב טָהוֹר בְּרָא לִי אֱלֹהִים.** שֶׁלֹּא אֶכָּשֵׁל עוֹד:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**Create for me a pure heart, O God** so that I do not stumble again.


###### Rashi on Psalms 51:13:1
[Rashi on Psalms 51:13:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Psalms/r/51:13:1)

**וְרוּחַ קָדְשְׁךָ אַל תִּקַּח מִמֶּנִּי.** שֶׁלֹּא יְהֵא רוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ מְרֻחָק מִמֶּנִּי (ס״א אינו):

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**and do not take Your holy spirit from me** that the holy spirit should not be withdrawn from me.


###### Rashi on Psalms 51:14:1
[Rashi on Psalms 51:14:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Psalms/r/51:14:1)

**הָשִׁיבָה לִּי שְׂשׂוֹן יִשְׁעֶךָ.** רוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ שֶׁנִּסְתַּלְּקָה מֵעָלַי (סנהדרין קז.):

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**Restore to me the joy of Your salvation** The holy spirit, which has left me.


###### Rashi on Psalms 51:14:2
[Rashi on Psalms 51:14:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Psalms/r/51:14:2)

**נְדִיבָה.** לְשׁוֹן נְדִיבוּת, קְצִינוּת:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**noble** Heb. נדיבה, an expression of nobility and leadership.


###### Rashi on Psalms 51:15:1
[Rashi on Psalms 51:15:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Psalms/r/51:15:1)

**אֲלַמְּדָה פוֹשְׁעִים דְּרָכֶיךָ.** וּמִמֶּנִּי יִלְמְדוּ וְיָשׁוּבוּ, אִם יִרְאוּ שֶׁתִּסְלַח לִי:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**I will teach transgressors Your ways** and they will learn from me. They will repent if they see that You forgive me.


###### Rashi on Psalms 51:16:1
[Rashi on Psalms 51:16:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Psalms/r/51:16:1)

**הַצִּילֵנִי מִדָּמִים.** שֶׁלֹּא אָמוּת בַּחֶרֶב, עַל עָנְשׁוֹ שֶׁל אוּרִיָּה שֶׁהָרַגְתִּי (שמואל ב יא:טו,יז):

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**Save me from blood** that I should not die by the sword as a punishment for Uriah, whom I killed.


###### Rashi on Psalms 51:17:1
[Rashi on Psalms 51:17:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Psalms/r/51:17:1)

**אֲדֹנָי שְׂפָתַי תִּפְתָּח.** מְחוֹל לִי, וִיהִי לִי פִּתְחוֹן פֶּה לְהַגִּיד **תְּהִלָּתֶךָ**:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**O Lord, You shall open my lips** Forgive me so that I will be able to open my lips to recite Your praise.


###### Rashi on Psalms 51:18:1
[Rashi on Psalms 51:18:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Psalms/r/51:18:1)

**כִּי לֹא תַחְפֹּץ זֶבַח.** שֶׁאֵין זֶבַח חַטָּאת בָּא עַל הַמֵּזִיד:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**For You do not wish a sacrifice** Because a sacrifice of a sin offering is not brought for a willful transgression.


###### Rashi on Psalms 51:18:2
[Rashi on Psalms 51:18:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Psalms/r/51:18:2)

**וְאֶתֵּנָה.** שֶׁאִם תַּחְפֹּץ אֶתְּנֶנּוּ לְךָ:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**or I should give it** For if You desired it, I would give it to You.


###### Rashi on Psalms 51:20:1
[Rashi on Psalms 51:20:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Psalms/r/51:20:1)

**הֵיטִיבָה.** לִבְנוֹת בֵּית מִקְדָּשְׁךָ בְּתוֹכָהּ בִּימֵי שְׁלֹמֹה בְּנִי:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**do good** to build Your Temple in its midst in the days of my son, Solomon.