Psalms 51:3 (LSB)

Passage

For I know my transgressions, And my sin is ever before me.

Nearby Context

Psalms 51:1 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 abundance of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.

Psalms 51:2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity And cleanse me from my sin.

Psalms 51:3 For I know my transgressions, And my sin is ever before me.

Psalms 51:4 Against You, You only, I have sinned And done what is evil in Your sight, So that You are justified when You speak And pure when You judge.

Psalms 51:5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "transgressions", "ever", and "before". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "transgressions" and "ever", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 2's "Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity And..." into verse 4's "Against You You only I have sinned...", so "transgressions" and "ever" belong inside that flow. In Psalms context, the local focus is worship, trust, the LORD's kingship, and covenant mercy.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "transgressions" and "ever" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.