# Psalms 51.5 **Book:** [Psalms](/codex/psalms/) · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT ## Immediate context (±2 verses) **ASV** ([ASV](/codex/asv/)) > 3. For I know my transgressions; And my sin is ever before me. 4. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, And done that which is evil in thy sight; That thou mayest be justified when thou speakest, And be clear when thou judgest. > > **5. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity; And in sin did my mother conceive me.** > > 6. Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts; And in the hidden part thou wilt make me to know wisdom. 7. Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. (Psalms 51:3-7, ASV) **WEB** ([WEB](/codex/web/)) > 3. For I know my transgressions. My sin is constantly before me. 4. Against you, and you only, I have sinned, and done that which is evil in your sight; that you may be proved right when you speak, and justified when you judge. > > **5. Behold, I was born in iniquity. In sin my mother conceived me.** > > 6. Behold, you desire truth in the inward parts. You teach me wisdom in the inmost place. 7. Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. (Psalms 51:3-7, WEB) **KJV** ([KJV](/codex/kjv/)) > 3. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. 4. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. > > **5. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. conceive: Heb. warm me** > > 6. Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. 7. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. (Psalms 51:3-7, KJV) **YLT** ([YLT](/codex/ylt/)) > 3. For my transgressions I do know, And my sin [is] before me continually. 4. Against Thee, Thee only, I have sinned, And done the evil thing in Thine eyes, So that Thou art righteous in Thy words, Thou art pure in Thy judging. > > **5. Lo, in iniquity I have been brought forth, And in sin doth my mother conceive me.** > > 6. Lo, truth Thou hast desired in the inward parts, And in the hidden part Wisdom Thou causest me to know. 7. Thou cleansest me with hyssop and I am clean, Washest me, and than snow I am whiter. (Psalms 51:3-7, YLT) ## Setting - **Speaker:** various (David majority; Asaph, Korah, Moses, Solomon, anonymous) - **Audience:** worshipping Israel (corporate + individual devotion) - **Location:** Israel, various periods - **Time period:** composition spans c. 1400 BC (Moses, Ps 90), c. 400 BC; principal Davidic composition c. 1000 BC ## Theological reading ## Key words - [H5771 - avon](/codex/h5771-avon/), *avon* (Strong's H5771). Also appears in: [Genesis 15.16](/codex/genesis-15-16/), [Genesis 19](/codex/genesis-19/), [Exodus 20.5](/codex/exodus-20-5/). ## Why these four translations ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the **most literal English translations available** (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the **public domain in the United States**, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance. The four: - **[ASV](/codex/asv/)** (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition. - **[WEB](/codex/web/)** (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English. - **[KJV](/codex/kjv/)** (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base. - **[YLT](/codex/ylt/)** (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff. See [Bibles](/codex/bibles/) for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses. ## Quoted in **Arguments and defeaters:** - [Argument from Forgiveness](/codex/argument-from-forgiveness/), via [Psalms 51.1-12](/codex/psalms-51-1-12/) - [Born This Way Objection Defeater](/codex/born-this-way-objection-defeater/) - [Epigenetic Homosexuality Model Objection Defeater](/codex/epigenetic-homosexuality-model-objection-defeater/) **Concepts:** - [Inherited Guilt and Visiting Iniquity](/codex/inherited-guilt-and-visiting-iniquity/) - [Is Being Gay Biological](/codex/is-being-gay-biological/) - [Original Sin](/codex/original-sin/) **Lexicon:** - [H2403 - chattath](/codex/h2403-chattath/), via [Psalms 51.2-5](/codex/psalms-51-2-5/) - [H5771 - avon](/codex/h5771-avon/) **Passages:** - [Psalms 139.13-16](/codex/psalms-139-13-16/)