Psalm 51 KJV in Large Print: Free Printable PDF

Psalm 51 in large print: words and download

Psalm 51

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

19. 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.

Words: King James Version (1611), Psalms 51:1-19; verse numbers retained, line wrapping adjusted. Public domain in the United States: English scripture translation published 1611 (public domain in the United States).

Download PDF: Psalm 51

The wording above comes from the King James Bible at Project Gutenberg, and the PDF prints the same text. Verse 2 reads “Wash me throughly,” which is the KJV spelling, not a misprint. Verse 10 is “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” This translation is in the public domain in the United States.

In the KJV a heading stands above verse 1: “To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.” The sheet starts at verse 1 and leaves that heading out.

Who wrote Psalm 51 and what is it about?

The KJV heading attributes Psalm 51 to David, as a confession after his sin with Bathsheba, and Wikipedia notes that it is based on the account in 2 Samuel 11-12. The psalm moves from a plea for mercy and a confession of sin to the request for a clean heart, and ends with Zion, the walls of Jerusalem and offerings on the altar.

It is one of the seven Penitential Psalms, a name used in Cassiodorus's commentary of the 6th century for Psalms 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130 and 143. In the Greek Septuagint and the Latin Vulgate the psalms are numbered slightly differently, so this psalm is Psalm 50 there. In Latin it is known by its first word, Miserere, which is also the name of Gregorio Allegri's 17th-century choral setting.

How is Psalm 51 used on Ash Wednesday and in daily prayer?

Parts of Psalm 51 are used as the responsorial psalm on Ash Wednesday in both the Revised Common Lectionary and the Roman Catholic Lectionary. In the Catholic Liturgy of the Hours it is prayed at Morning Prayer every Friday, and a priest may assign it as a penance after confession. Verse 7, “Purge me with hyssop,” is the verse traditionally sung in Latin as Asperges me while holy water is sprinkled before Mass.

In the Church of England's Book of Common Prayer it is appointed for the morning of the tenth day of the month. In Jewish prayer, the verse the KJV numbers 15, “O Lord, open thou my lips,” is said before the Amidah at every service, and the whole psalm is recited as a prayer for forgiveness, according to Wikipedia. The Eastern Orthodox Church reads it several times every day.

Psalm 103 places forgiveness within a longer passage of praise, and Psalm 139 ends with a request to search the heart. For a different kind of plea, Psalm 35 asks for help against adversaries.

How do I print Psalm 51 in large print?

Choose the text size, paper and typeface above the preview, then press Download PDF. Open the saved PDF and print at Actual size or 100%, using the same paper size you selected. Fit to page can shrink the type below the size you chose.

These counts come from generating this sheet with both available typefaces, Atkinson Hyperlegible and Liberation Sans, which gave the same results. All 19 verses are included at every size, and later pages repeat the Psalm 51 heading.

At three settings the last page holds only the source line: A4 at 18 point, Letter at 28 point and 11 x 17 at 18 point. On 11 x 17 at 18 point, all 19 verses fit on the first sheet.

The cream background is available if white paper causes glare. The page on what large print is explains where the 18, 24 and 28 point sizes come from, and more readings are collected under large print prayers and hymns.