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Psalm 51:10
Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.
8Let me hear joy and gladness, that the bones which you have broken may rejoice.
9Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all of my iniquities.
10Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.
11Don’t throw me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.
12Restore to me the joy of your salvation. Uphold me with a willing spirit.
Notice
The plea for a clean heart reaches beneath outward conduct, naming the need for inward change that the speaker asks God to bring.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
What would you want to name before God while praying for a clean heart?
Write on thisWhat difference do you hear between asking God to “Create” and asking him to “Renew”?
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Where else Scripture says this
12 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.
This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
2 Corinthians 5:17Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.Psalm 51 asks God to create a clean heart; Corinthians describes the person in Christ as a new creation.
Ezekiel 11:19I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them. I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh,Both passages join heart and spirit, with the psalm asking for change and Ezekiel declaring what God will give.
Romans 12:2Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of …Renewal reaches within in both passages: Psalm 51 speaks of the spirit, while Romans speaks of the mind.
Ephesians 4:22–24that you put away, as concerning your former way of life, the old man that grows corrupt after the lusts of deceit,Psalm 51 seeks a clean heart; Ephesians urges putting away the former way of life that grows corrupt.
Matthew 5:8Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.Purity of heart connects these texts: the psalm asks God for a clean heart, and Jesus blesses the pure in heart.
Ezekiel 36:26I will also give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit within you. I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of …The heart and spirit sought in Psalm 51 correspond to the new heart and new spirit God promises in Ezekiel.
Ezekiel 18:31Cast away from you all your transgressions in which you have transgressed; and make yourself a new heart and a new spirit. For why will you die, house of …Both passages address heart and spirit, though the psalm asks God to act and Ezekiel commands Israel to change.
Ezekiel 36:25–27I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.God is the source of cleansing in both texts: the psalm asks for a clean heart, and Ezekiel promises cleansing from filthiness.
Acts 15:9He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.Both passages speak of God cleansing hearts, with Acts naming faith as the means.
Titus 3:5not by works of righteousness which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy …Renewal is God's work in both texts: Psalm 51 asks him to renew, and Titus names renewal by the Holy Spirit.
Jeremiah 32:39I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever, for their good and the good of their children after them.Both texts look to God to shape the heart: Psalm 51 asks for cleanness, and Jeremiah promises a heart that fears him.
1 Peter 1:22Seeing you have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth through the Spirit in sincere brotherly affection, love one another from the heart fervently,Both texts concern inward purity, with Psalm 51 asking God for it and Peter linking it to obedience and love.
Where this verse fits
Guilt and confession. wanting a steady prayer habit.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
You do not need to claim a clean heart before bringing this prayer to God. The plea itself asks him to create what is needed.
Now put it in your words.
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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).