51:6 Look, 1 you desire 2 integrity in the inner man; 3
you want me to possess wisdom. 4
51:10 Create for me a pure heart, O God! 5
Renew a resolute spirit within me! 6
1 sn The juxtaposition of two occurrences of “look” in vv. 5-6 draws attention to the sharp contrast between the sinful reality of the psalmist’s condition and the lofty ideal God has for him.
2 tn The perfect is used in a generalizing sense here.
3 tn Heb “in the covered [places],” i.e., in the inner man.
4 tn Heb “in the secret [place] wisdom you cause me to know.” The Hiphil verbal form is causative, while the imperfect is used in a modal sense to indicate God’s desire (note the parallel verb “desire”).
5 sn The heart is viewed here as the seat of the psalmist’s motives and moral character.
6 tn Heb “and a reliable spirit renew in my inner being.”