Psalms 51:18 (YLT)

Passage

Do good in Thy good pleasure with Zion, Thou dost build the walls of Jerusalem.

Nearby Context

Psalms 51:16 For Thou desirest not sacrifice, or I give <FI>it<Fi> , Burnt-offering Thou acceptest not.

Psalms 51:17 The sacrifices of God <FI>are<Fi> a broken spirit, A heart broken and bruised, O God, Thou dost not despise.

Psalms 51:18 Do good in Thy good pleasure with Zion, Thou dost build the walls of Jerusalem.

Psalms 51:19 Then Thou desirest sacrifices of righteousness, Burnt-offering, and whole burnt-offering, Then they offer bullocks on thine altar!

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "good", "pleasure", "zion", "thou", "dost", "build", and "walls". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "good" and "pleasure", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 17's "The sacrifices of God FI are Fi..." into verse 19's "Then Thou desirest sacrifices of righteousness Burnt-offering...", so "good" and "pleasure" 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 "good" and "pleasure" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.