A Comparative Text of Psalm 51

This text makes available the major Bible translations that Locke might have seen and allows for a verse-by-verse comparison.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19


Verse 1

Locke:

Have mercie upon me (o God) after thy great merci.
And according unto the multitude of thy mercies do away myne offences.

GreatBible

Have mercy upon me, O God, after thy (great) goodness: according to the multitude of thy mercies do away mine offences.

Geneva:

Have mercy upon me, ô God,[b] according to thy loving kindnes: according to the multitude of thy compassions put awaie mine iniquities.

[b]As his sinnes were manifold & great, so he requireth that God wolde give him the feling of his excellent and abundant mercies.

King James Version

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according
unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

Vulgate:

MISERERE mei, Deus: secundum magnam misericordiam tuam.
Et secundum multitudinem miserationum tuarum: deleiniquitatem meam.


Verse 2

Locke:

Wash me yet more from my wickednes, and clense me from my sinne.

GreatBible

Wash me throughly from mine wickedness: and cleanse me from my sin.

Geneva:

Wash me [c]throughly from mine iniquitie: and clense me from my sinne.

[c]My sinnes sticke so fast in me, that I have nede of some singular kinde of washing.

King James Version

Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

Vulgate:

Amplius lava me ab iniquitate mea: et a peccato meo munda me.


Verse 3

Locke:

For I knowledge my wickednes, and my sinne is ever before me.

GreatBible

For I knowledge my fautes: and my sinne is ever before me.

Geneva:

For I [d]knowe mine iniquities, & my sinne is ever before me.

[d]My conscience accusetth me, so that I can have no rest, til I be reconciled.

King James Version

For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

Vulgate:

Quoniam iniquitatem meam ego cognosco: et peceatum meum contra me est semper.


Verse 4

Locke:

Againste thee onelye have I sinned, & do evill in thy sight, that thou mightest be found just in thy sayinges, and maiest over come when thou art judged.

GreatBible

Against the onely have I sinned and done this evill in thy sighte: that thou mightest be justified in thy saiyng and clear when thou art judged.

Geneva:

Against thee, against thee onely have I sinned, & done evil in thy sight, that thou maiest be juste when thou[e] speakest, and pure when thou judged.

[e]When thou givest sentence against sinners, thei must nedes confesse thee to be just and them selves sinners.

King James Version

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.

Vulgate:

Tibi soli peceavi, et malum coram te feci: ut justificeris in sermonibus tuis, et vincas cum judicaris.


Verse 5

Locke:

For loe, I was shapen in wickednes, and in sinne my mother conceived me.

GreatBible

Beholde, I was shapen in wickednes, and in syn hath my mother conceyved me.

Geneva:

Beholde, I was borne in iniquitie, and in sinne hath my mother conceived me.

King James Version

Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Vulgate:

Ecce enim in iniquitatibus conceptus sum: et in peccatis concepit me mater mea.


Verse 6

Locke:

But lo, thou haste loved trueth, the hidden and secrete thinges of thy wisedom thou haste opened unto me.

GreatBible

But lo, thou requirest truth in the inward partes: and shalt make mee to understande wisdom secretely.

Geneva:

Beholde, thou [f]lovest trueth in the inwardeaffections: therefore hast thou taught me wisdome in the secret of mine heart.

[f]He confesseth that God, who loveth purenes of heart, maie justely destroy man, who of nature is a sinner, much more him, whome he had instructed in his heavenlie wisdome Leviv.14.6

King James Version

Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

Vulgate:

Ecce enim veritatem dilexisti: incerta et occulta sapientiæ tuæ manifestasti mihi.


Verse 7

Locke:

Sprinkle me, Lorde, with hisope and i shalbe cleane; washe me and I shalbe whiter then snow.

GreatBible

Thou shalt pourge me with Hyssop, and I shalbe clean: thou shalt washe me, and I shalbe whiter then snow.

Geneva:

Purge me with *hyssope, and I shal be cleane: wash me, & I shalbe whiter then snowe.

King James Version

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Vulgate:

Asperges me, Domine, hyssopo, et mundabor: lavabis me, et super nivem dealbabor.


Verse 8

Locke:

Thou shalt make me heare joye and gladnesse, al the bones which thou hast broken shal rejoyse.

GreatBible

Thou shalt make me heare joye and gladnes: that the bones which thou hast broken, may rejoyce.

Geneva:

Make me to heare [g] joy and gladnes, that the [h] bones which thou hast broken, maie rejoyce.

[g]He meaneth Gods comfortable mercies towards repentant sinners.

[h]By the bones he understandeth all strength of soule and bodie, which by cares and mourning are consumed.

King James Version

Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

Vulgate:

Auditui meo dabis gaudium et lætitiam: et exsultabunt ossa humiliata.


Verse 9

Locke:

Turne away thy face from my sinnes, and do away all my misdedes.

GreatBible

Turne thy face from my sinnes: and put out all my misdedes.

Geneva:

Hide thy face from my sinnes, and put awaie all mine iniquities.

King James Version

Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

Vulgate:

Averte faciem tuam a peccatis meis: et omnes iniquitates meas dele.


Verse 10

Locke:

Create a cleane hart within me, O God. and renew a stedfast spirit within my bowels.

GreatBible

Make me a clean heart (O God) and renewe a right spirite within me.

Geneva:

[i]Create in me a clean heart, ô God, & renue a right spirit within me.

[i]He confesseth that when Gods Spirit is colde in us, to have it againe revived is as a new creation.

King James Version

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

Vulgate:

Cor mundum crea in me, Deus: et spiritum reotum innoara in visceribas meis.


Verse 11

Locke:

Cast me not away from thy face, and take not thy holy spirit from me.

GreatBible

Cast me not away from thy presence: and take not thy holy spirite from me.

Geneva:

Cast me not awaie from thy presence, and take not thine holie Spirit from me.

King James Version

Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

Vulgate:

Ne projicias me a facie tua: et spiritum sanctum tuum ne auferas a me.


Verse 12

Locke:

Restore to me the comforte of thy saving help, & stablishe me with thy free spirit.

GreatBible

O geve me the comfort of thy helpe again: and stablishe me with thy free spirite.

Geneva:

Restore to me the joye of thy salvacion, and stablish me with thy [k] fre Spirit.

[k]Which maie assure me that I am drawen out of the slaverie of sinne.

King James Version

Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

Vulgate:

Redde mihi lætitiam salutaris tui: et spiritu principali confirma me.


Verse 13

Locke:

I shal teach thy waies unto the wicked, and sinners shall be tourned unto thee.

GreatBible

Then shall I teache thy ways unto the wicked and sinners shall be converted unto the.

Geneva:

Then shal I teache thy [l] waies unto the wicked, and sinners shal be converted unto thee.

[l]He promiseth to endevour that others by his example may turne to God.

King James Version

Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

Vulgate:

Docebo iniquos vias tuas: et impii ad te convertentur.

Verse 14

Locke:

Deliver me from bloud, o God, God of my helth & my tong shall joyfullye talke of thy justice.

GreatBible

Deliver me from bloude giltiness, O God, thou that art the God of my health: and my tongue shal sing of thy righteousnes.

Geneva:

Deliver me from[m] blood, ô God, which art the God of my salvation, and my tongue shal sing joyfully of thy righteousnes.

[m]From the murder of Uriah , and the others that were slain with him, 2 Sam 11.17.

King James Version

Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

Vulgate:

Libera me de sanguinibus, Deus, Deus salutis meæ: et exsultabit lingua mea justitiam tuam.


Verse 15

Locke:

Lord, open thou my lippes, and my mouth shal shewe thy praise.

GreatBible

Thou shalt open my lyppes, O Lord: my mouthe shall shew thy praise.

Geneva:

[n]Open thou my lippes, ô Lord, and my mouth shal shewe forthe thy praise.

[n]By giving me occasion to praise thee, when thou shall forgive my sinnes.

King Jame Version

O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.

Vulgate:

Domine, labia mea aperies: et os meum annuntiabit laudem tuam.


Verse 16

Locke:

If thou haddest desired sacrifice, I wold have geven thou delytest not in burnt offringes.

GreatBible

For thou desirest no sacrifice, else would I geve it thee: but thou delightest not in burnt offeringes.

Geneva:

For thou desirest no sacrifice, thogh I wolde give it: thou delitest not in burnt offring.

King James Version

For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.

Vulgate:

Quoniam si voluisses sacrificium, dedissem: utique holocaustis non delectaberus.


Verse 17

Locke:

The sacrifice to God is a trobled spirit: a broken and an humbled hart, o god, thou wilt not despise.

GreatBible

The sacrifice of god is a troubled spirite: a broken and a contrite herte O God shalt thou not dispise.

Geneva:

The sacrifices of God are a[o]contrite spirit : a contrite & broken heart, ô God, thou wilt not despise.

[o]Which is a wounding of the heart, proceding of faith, which seketh unto God for mercie.

King James Version

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

Vulgate:

Sacrificium Deo spiritus contribulatus: cor contritum et humiliatum, Deus, non despicies.


Verse 18

Locke:

Shew favour, o lord in thy good will unto Sion, that the walls of Jierusalem may be bylded.

GreatBible

O be favourable & gracious unto Sion: builde thou the walles of Jerusalem.

Geneva:

Be favourable unto [p]Zion for thy good pleasure: buylde the walles of Jerusalem.

[p] He praieth for the whole Church, because through his sinne it was in danger of Gods judgement.

King James Version

Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.

Vulgate:

Benigne fac, Domine, in bona voluntate tua Sion: ut ædificentur muri Hierusalem.


Verse 19

Locke:

Then shall thou accept the sacrifice of righteousnesse, burnt offringes and oblations. then shall they offre yonge bullockes upon thine altare.

GreatBible

Then shalte thou be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousnes, with the burnte offerynges and oblations: then shall they offer yong bullockes upon thyne alter.

Geneva:

Then shalt thou accept the sacrifices of [q]righteousness, even the burnt-offring and oblation: then shal they offer calves upon thine altar.

[q]That is, just & lawful, applied to their righte end, which is the exercise of faith & repentance.

King James Version

Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

Vulgate:

Tunc aceeptabis sacrificium justitiæ, oblationes et holocausta: tunc imponent super altare tuum vitulos.

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