To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
King David of Israel — a man the Bible describes as being 'after God's own heart' — committed two serious sins: he slept with Bathsheba, the wife of one of his soldiers, and then arranged for that soldier, Uriah, to be sent to the deadliest part of the battle to be killed, covering his tracks. When the prophet Nathan — a messenger who spoke directly for God — confronted David with the truth, David didn't deflect or make excuses. This psalm is his raw response. He throws himself entirely on two aspects of God's character: 'unfailing love' (in Hebrew, hesed — a word for the deep, loyal, covenant love God has for his people) and 'great compassion.' David knows he has no argument for mercy. He can only appeal to who God is.
God, I come without a good argument for mercy — only the knowledge that mercy is who you are. Like David, I bring what I've done and what I've left undone. Blot it out. Not because I've earned it, but because your love is unfailing. Amen.
There is an audacity to this prayer that stops you in your tracks if you sit with it long enough. David has just been exposed — not for a small failure, but for adultery and murder. The cover-up unraveled. And his first move is to ask for mercy? But that's exactly the point. David doesn't arrive with a self-improvement plan or a promise to do better. He comes empty-handed, holding nothing but God's own character back up to God — 'according to your unfailing love... according to your great compassion.' He's not arguing he deserves mercy. He's arguing that God is the kind of God who gives it. If there's a prayer you've been afraid to pray because what you'd have to confess feels too heavy, too specific, too embarrassing — this verse is for you. The ground of forgiveness isn't your improvement. It's God's nature. You can come as you are.
David appeals to God's 'unfailing love' and 'great compassion' rather than any personal merit — what does this tell us about how forgiveness actually works?
Is there something you've done or are carrying that you haven't been able to bring to God yet? What makes honest confession difficult for you?
Some people feel that certain sins are 'too big' for God to forgive. How does this verse challenge or affirm that feeling?
David's sin had real victims — Bathsheba, Uriah, his family. How do you hold together personal repentance before God with the responsibility we have toward people we've hurt?
After sitting with this verse, what is one honest prayer you could write or speak today — even if it's only a sentence or two?
I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.
Isaiah 44:22
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
Acts 3:19
To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm of David. Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.
Psalms 4:1
Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
Colossians 2:14
Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
Ephesians 1:8
Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O LORD.
Psalms 25:7
I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.
Isaiah 43:25
To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
Ephesians 1:6
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David; when Nathan the prophet came to him after he had sinned with Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.
AMP
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
ESV
For the choir director. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.
NASB
Psalm 5 For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.
NIV
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions.
NKJV
Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins.
NLT
A David psalm, after he was confronted by Nathan about the affair with Bathsheba. Generous in love—God, give grace! Huge in mercy—wipe out my bad record.
MSG