1. Miserere mei, Deus, secundum magnam misericordiam tuam; et secundum multitudinem miserationum tuarum, dele iniquitatem meam.
Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy great mercy; and according to the multitude of thy tender mercies, blot out my iniquity.
Word Notes:
- miserere — 2nd pers. sing. pres. imper. of misereor, miserēri, misertus sum: have mercy, take pity.
- misericordia, -ae (f) — mercy, compassion (miser + cor, “pity of heart”).
- miseratio, -onis (f) — compassion, pity (plural here, “tender mercies”).
- dele — pres. imper. of deleō, delēre, delēvī, delētum: blot out, erase, destroy.
- iniquitas, -atis (f) — iniquity, injustice, sin.
2. Amplius lava me ab iniquitate mea, et a peccato meo munda me.
Wash me more and more from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
Word Notes:
- amplius — comparative adverb of amplus: more fully, further, more.
- lava — pres. imper. of lavō, lavāre, lāvī, lautum: wash.
- munda — pres. imper. of mundō, mundāre, mundāvī, mundātum: cleanse, purify.
- peccatum, -i (n) — sin, moral offence.
3. Quoniam iniquitatem meam ego cognosco, et peccatum meum contra me est semper.
For I acknowledge my iniquity, and my sin is ever before me.
Word Notes:
- cognosco, cognoscere, cognovi, cognitum — to know, become aware, acknowledge.
- contra me — literally “against me”: before my face, confronting me.
- semper — always, continually.
4. Tibi soli peccavi, et malum coram te feci: ut justificeris in sermonibus tuis, et vincas cum judicaris.
Against thee only have I sinned, and done evil before thee, that thou mayest be justified in thy words and prevail when thou art judged.
Word Notes:
- soli — dat. sing. of solus: to thee alone.
- malum, -i (n) — evil, wrongdoing.
- justificeris — pres. subj. pass. of justifico, -are: be justified, shown righteous.
- vincas — pres. subj. act. of vinco, vincere, vici, victum: conquer, prevail.
- cum judicaris — “when thou art judged”; judico, -are: to judge.
5. Ecce enim in iniquitatibus conceptus sum: et in peccatis concepit me mater mea.
Behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sins did my mother conceive me.
Word Notes:
- concipio, concipere, concepi, conceptum — to conceive (a child or an idea).
- mater, matris (f) — mother.
- ecce — behold, look (introduces solemn emphasis).
6. Ecce enim veritatem dilexisti: incerta et occulta sapientiae tuae manifestasti mihi.
Behold, thou hast loved truth: the uncertain and hidden things of thy wisdom thou hast revealed to me.
Word Notes:
- veritas, -atis (f) — truth, sincerity.
- dilexisti — perf. ind. of diligo, diligere, dilexi, dilectum: to love, esteem.
- incertus, -a, -um — hidden, uncertain, obscure.
- occultus, -a, -um — secret, hidden.
- manifestasti — perf. ind. of manifesto, -are: make manifest, reveal.
7. Asperges me hyssopo, et mundabor; lavabis me, et super nivem dealbabor.
Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be cleansed; thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow.
Word Notes:
- asperges — fut. ind. of aspergo, aspergere, aspersi, aspersum: sprinkle.
- hyssopus, -i (m) — hyssop, a purifying herb used in ritual cleansing.
- mundabor — fut. pass. of mundo: I shall be cleansed.
- dealbo, -are, -avi, -atum — make white, whiten.
- nix, nivis (f) — snow.
8. Auditui meo dabis gaudium et laetitiam, et exsultabunt ossa humiliata.
Thou shalt give joy and gladness to my hearing, and the bones that have been humbled shall rejoice.
Word Notes:
- auditui — dat. sing. of auditus, -us (m): hearing, sense of hearing.
- gaudium, -i (n) — joy.
- laetitia, -ae (f) — gladness.
- exsulto, -are — to exult, rejoice greatly.
- humiliatus, -a, -um — humbled, brought low.
9. Averte faciem tuam a peccatis meis, et omnes iniquitates meas dele.
Turn away thy face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.
Word Notes:
- averte — pres. imper. of averto, avertere, averti, aversum: turn away.
- facies, -ei (f) — face, countenance.
- omnes — all.
- meas — acc. pl. fem., agreeing with iniquitates.
10. Cor mundum crea in me, Deus, et spiritum rectum innova in visceribus meis.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within my inmost parts.
Word Notes:
- cor, cordis (n) — heart.
- crea — pres. imper. of creo, creare: create.
- innova — pres. imper. of innovō, innovāre: renew.
- rectus, -a, -um — upright, straight, right.
- viscera, -um (n pl.) — inmost parts, inner being.
11. Ne projicias me a facie tua, et spiritum sanctum tuum ne auferas a me.
Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy holy spirit from me.
Word Notes:
- projicias — pres. subj. of proicio, proicere, proieci, proiectum: throw away, reject.
- auferas — pres. subj. of aufero, auferre, abstuli, ablatum: take away.
- sanctus, -a, -um — holy, sacred.
12. Redde mihi laetitiam salutaris tui, et spiritu principali confirma me.
Restore to me the joy of thy salvation, and strengthen me with a willing spirit.
Word Notes:
- redde — pres. imper. of reddo, reddere, reddidi, redditum: give back, restore.
- salutaris, -e — saving, bringing salvation.
- confirmo, -are — strengthen, establish.
- spiritus principalis — a noble, steadfast spirit (lit. “chief spirit”).
13. Docebo iniquos vias tuas, et impii ad te convertentur.
I will teach the wicked thy ways, and sinners shall return to thee.
Word Notes:
- docebo — fut. ind. of doceo, docere, docui, doctum: teach.
- iniquus, -a, -um — unjust, wicked.
- convertentur — fut. ind. pass. of converto, convertere, converti, conversum: turn (themselves), return.
14. Libera me de sanguinibus, Deus, Deus salutis meae, et exsultabit lingua mea justitiam tuam.
Deliver me from bloodguilt, O God of my salvation, and my tongue shall exult in thy justice.
Word Notes:
- libera — pres. imper. of libero, liberare: free, deliver.
- sanguis, -inis (m) — blood; here plural “bloods” = bloodguilt.
- exsultabit — fut. ind. of exsulto: shall rejoice.
- justitia, -ae (f) — justice, righteousness.
15. Domine, labia mea aperies, et os meum annuntiabit laudem tuam.
O Lord, thou shalt open my lips, and my mouth shall proclaim thy praise.
Word Notes:
- aperies — fut. ind. of aperio, aperire, aperui, apertum: open.
- annuntiabit — fut. ind. of annuntio, annuntiare: proclaim, announce.
- laus, laudis (f) — praise.
16. Quoniam si voluisses sacrificium, dedissem utique; holocaustis non delectaberis.
For if thou hadst desired sacrifice, I would indeed have given it; in burnt offerings thou wilt not take delight.
Word Notes:
- voluisses — plupf. subj. of volo, velle, volui: to wish, want.
- dedissem — plupf. subj. of do, dare, dedi, datum: to give.
- holocaustum, -i (n) — whole burnt offering.
- delectaberis — fut. ind. of delector, delectari: to take delight.
17. Sacrificium Deo spiritus contribulatus: cor contritum et humiliatum, Deus, non despicies.
The sacrifice of God is a contrite spirit: a broken and humbled heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
Word Notes:
- contribulatus, -a, -um — crushed, broken (from tribulo, press, bruise).
- contritus, -a, -um — ground down, contrite.
- humiliatus — humbled, lowly.
- despicies — fut. ind. of despicio, despicere: look down on, despise.
18–19. Benigne fac, Domine, in bona voluntate tua Sion, ut aedificentur muri Jerusalem. Tunc acceptabis sacrificium justitiae, oblationes et holocausta; tunc imponent super altare tuum vitulos.
Deal favourably, O Lord, in thy good will with Sion, that the walls of Jerusalem may be built up. Then shalt thou accept the sacrifice of righteousness, oblations and whole burnt offerings; then shall they lay calves upon thy altar.
Word Notes:
- benigne fac — act kindly; benigne = kindly, graciously.
- aedificentur — pres. subj. pass. of aedifico, -are: build.
- murus, -i (m) — wall.
- oblatio, -onis (f) — offering.
- vitulus, -i (m) — calf, young bull.
Reflection
This Psalm is the song of the conscience rediscovering mercy. It moves from guilt to renewal, from isolation to belonging. The repeated imperatives — miserere, lava, munda, crea, innova — are not commands but cries of surrender.
The poet does not ask for mere pardon but for re-creation: cor mundum crea in me, Deus. Sin is a distortion of being; repentance is a return to wholeness.
Verse 17 captures the moral essence of faith: cor contritum et humiliatum, Deus, non despicies. The broken heart is the only true sacrifice — not destruction, but the opening of self to grace.