Mazmur 51:6

51:6 Look, ¹  you desire ²  integrity in the inner man; ³ 

you want me to possess wisdom. ⁴ 

Mazmur 51:17

51:17 The sacrifices God desires are a humble spirit ⁵  –

O God, a humble and repentant heart ⁶  you will not reject. ⁷ 

[51:6]  ¹ sn The juxtaposition of two occurrences of “look” in vv. 5-6 draws attention to the sharp contrast between the sinful reality of the psalmist’s condition and the lofty ideal God has for him.

[51:6]  ² tn The perfect is used in a generalizing sense here.

[51:6]  ³ tn Heb “in the covered [places],” i.e., in the inner man.

[51:6]  ⁴ tn Heb “in the secret [place] wisdom you cause me to know.” The Hiphil verbal form is causative, while the imperfect is used in a modal sense to indicate God’s desire (note the parallel verb “desire”).

[51:6]  sn You want me to possess wisdom. Here “wisdom” does not mean “intelligence” or “learning,” but refers to moral insight and skill.

[51:17]  ⁵ tn Heb “a broken spirit.”

[51:17]  ⁶ tn Heb “a broken and crushed heart.”

[51:17]  ⁷ tn Or “despise.”