Psalms
“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.”
Psalms 51:17
Psalms 51:17 (KJV) speaks to repentance, humility, and God's grace — words set in Psalms, Israel's songbook of honest prayer. Read it unhurried, and let it become a prayer you return to.
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Verses that sit beside this one
“I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
Luke 5:32“She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.”
John 8:11“And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.”
Joel 2:13“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
2 Chronicles 7:14“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“But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
Matthew 9:13
Common questions
What does Psalms 51:17 mean?
In the King James Version, Psalms 51:17 reads: "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise." The verse speaks to repentance, humility, and God's grace. To read it well, take it in the flow of Psalms 51 rather than on its own, and let the words settle slowly — reading it aloud, or turning it into a short prayer, is often what makes its meaning land.
Is Psalms 51:17 in the King James Version?
Yes. "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise." is Psalms 51:17 in the King James Version (KJV), found in Psalms chapter 51.
What are some related Bible verses to Psalms 51:17?
Verses that sit beside Psalms 51:17 include Luke 5:32, John 8:11, and Joel 2:13. Reading them alongside Psalms 51:17 deepens the theme of repentance.
How can I pray with Psalms 51:17?
Read Psalms 51:17 slowly, take a breath, and turn it into a short prayer in your own words — thanking God for what it promises, or asking for what it points to. Keep it somewhere you will see it today, and let it be a companion rather than a task to finish.