Psalm 51:12
New International Version
Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

New Living Translation
Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.

English Standard Version
Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

Berean Standard Bible
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and sustain me with a willing spirit.

King James Bible
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

New King James Version
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.

New American Standard Bible
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And sustain me with a willing spirit.

NASB 1995
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit.

NASB 1977
Restore to me the joy of Thy salvation, And sustain me with a willing spirit.

Legacy Standard Bible
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit.

Amplified Bible
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit.

Christian Standard Bible
Restore the joy of your salvation to me, and sustain me by giving me a willing spirit.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Restore the joy of Your salvation to me, and give me a willing spirit.

American Standard Version
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; And uphold me with a willing spirit.

Contemporary English Version
Make me as happy as you did when you saved me; make me want to obey!

English Revised Version
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation: and uphold me with a free spirit.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Restore the joy of your salvation to me, and provide me with a spirit of willing obedience.

Good News Translation
Give me again the joy that comes from your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.

International Standard Version
Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and let a willing attitude control me.

Majority Standard Bible
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and sustain me with a willing spirit.

NET Bible
Let me again experience the joy of your deliverance! Sustain me by giving me the desire to obey!

New Heart English Bible
Restore to me the joy of your salvation. Uphold me with a willing spirit.

Webster's Bible Translation
Restore to me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

World English Bible
Restore to me the joy of your salvation. Uphold me with a willing spirit.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, "" And a willing spirit sustains me.

Young's Literal Translation
Restore to me the joy of Thy salvation, And a willing spirit doth sustain me.

Smith's Literal Translation
Turn back to me the joy of thy salvation, and thy willing spirit shall uphold me.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and strengthen me with a perfect spirit.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and confirm me with an unsurpassed spirit.

New American Bible
Restore to me the gladness of your salvation; uphold me with a willing spirit.

New Revised Standard Version
Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Restore to me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy glorious spirit,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
But return your sweetness to me and your salvation and your glorious Spirit will hold me.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation; And let a willing spirit uphold me.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Restore to me the joy of thy salvation: establish me with thy directing Spirit.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Create in Me a Clean Heart, O God
11Cast me not away from Your presence; take not Your Holy Spirit from me. 12Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and sustain me with a willing spirit. 13Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will return to You.…

Cross References
Isaiah 12:3
With joy you will draw water from the springs of salvation,

Isaiah 57:15
For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in a high and holy place, and with the oppressed and humble in spirit, to restore the spirit of the lowly and revive the heart of the contrite.

Isaiah 61:10
I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, my soul will exult in my God; for He has clothed me with garments of salvation and wrapped me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom wears a priestly headdress, as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

Isaiah 35:10
So the redeemed of the LORD will return and enter Zion with singing, crowned with everlasting joy. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee.

Isaiah 40:31
But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.

Jeremiah 31:25
for I will refresh the weary soul and replenish all who are weak.”

Nehemiah 8:10
Then Nehemiah told them, “Go and eat what is rich, drink what is sweet, and send out portions to those who have nothing prepared, since today is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

Lamentations 5:21
Restore us to Yourself, O LORD, so we may return; renew our days as of old,

Habakkuk 3:18
yet I will exult in the LORD; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation!

Zephaniah 3:17
The LORD your God is among you; He is mighty to save. He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you with His love; He will rejoice over you with singing.”

1 Samuel 2:1
At that time Hannah prayed: “My heart rejoices in the LORD; my horn is exalted in the LORD. My mouth speaks boldly against my enemies, for I rejoice in Your salvation.

1 Chronicles 16:27
Splendor and majesty are before Him; strength and joy fill His dwelling.

Romans 15:13
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

John 16:22
So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.

John 15:11
I have told you these things so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.


Treasury of Scripture

Restore to me the joy of your salvation; and uphold me with your free spirit.

Restore

Psalm 85:6-8
Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee? …

Job 29:2,3
Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me; …

Isaiah 57:17,18
For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him: I hid me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart…

joy

Psalm 13:5
But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.

Psalm 21:1
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The king shall joy in thy strength, O LORD; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!

Psalm 35:9
And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.

uphold

Psalm 17:5
Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.

Psalm 19:13
Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

Psalm 119:116,117,133
Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope…

free

Romans 8:15
For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

2 Corinthians 3:17
Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

Galatians 4:6,7
And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father…

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Free Grant Joy Restore Salvation Spirit Support Sustain Uphold Willing
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Free Grant Joy Restore Salvation Spirit Support Sustain Uphold Willing
Psalm 51
1. David prays for remission of sins, whereof he makes a deep confession
6. He prays for sanctification
16. God delights not in sacrifice, but in sincerity
18. He prays for the church














Restore to me
This phrase begins with a plea for restoration, indicating a desire to return to a previous state of grace and favor with God. The Hebrew root for "restore" is "שׁוּב" (shuv), which means to return or turn back. This word is often used in the context of repentance and returning to God. The psalmist, King David, is seeking to be brought back into a right relationship with God after his sin. Historically, this reflects the covenant relationship between God and Israel, where restoration is a recurring theme.

the joy of Your salvation
"Joy" in Hebrew is "שִׂמְחָה" (simchah), which conveys a sense of gladness and delight. The "joy of Your salvation" refers to the deep, abiding happiness that comes from being in a right relationship with God and experiencing His deliverance. Salvation here is not just a future hope but a present reality that brings joy. This joy is a gift from God, and David longs for its return, recognizing that sin has disrupted this joy. Theologically, this joy is a fruit of the Spirit and a hallmark of a life aligned with God's will.

and sustain me
The word "sustain" comes from the Hebrew "תָּמַךְ" (tamak), meaning to uphold or support. David is asking for God's ongoing support and strength to maintain his spiritual life. This reflects a dependence on God not only for initial salvation but for continual spiritual sustenance. In the broader biblical context, God is often depicted as the sustainer of life, providing what is necessary for both physical and spiritual well-being.

with a willing spirit
The "willing spirit" refers to an attitude of readiness and eagerness to follow God's commands. The Hebrew word for "willing" is "נְדִיבָה" (nedivah), which implies generosity and nobility. David is asking for a spirit that is not only obedient but also eager to do God's will. This reflects a transformation of the heart, where obedience is not burdensome but a joyful response to God's grace. In the New Testament, this concept is echoed in the call to live by the Spirit, where believers are empowered to live in a way that pleases God.

(12) Joy of thy salvation.--This again points to a sense of restoration of covenant privileges.

Thy free spirit.--Rather, with a willing spirit. Or we may render, a willing spirit shall support me.

Verse 12. - Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation. Give me back that "joy" which was mine when I was conscious of thy favour, and felt that thou wert my Strength and my Salvation (Psalm 18:1; Psalm 62:2, etc.). And uphold me with thy free spirit. There is no "thy" in the original; and it is his own spirit, not God's Spirit, of which the psalmist here speaks. "Uphold me," he says, "preserve me from falling, by giving me a 'free,' or 'generous,' or 'noble' spirit - the opposite of that 'spirit of bondage' which the apostle says that Christians do not receive" (Romans 8:15).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Restore
הָשִׁ֣יבָה (hā·šî·ḇāh)
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

to me
לִּ֭י (lî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's Hebrew

the joy
שְׂשׂ֣וֹן (śə·śō·wn)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8342: Cheerfulness, welcome

of Your salvation,
יִשְׁעֶ֑ךָ (yiš·‘e·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 3468: Deliverance, rescue, salvation, safety, welfare

and sustain me
תִסְמְכֵֽנִי׃ (ṯis·mə·ḵê·nî)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | first person common singular
Strong's 5564: To prop, to lean upon, take hold of

with a willing
נְדִיבָ֣ה (nə·ḏî·ḇāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5081: Voluntary, generous, magnanimous, a grandee

spirit.
וְר֖וּחַ (wə·rū·aḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - common singular
Strong's 7307: Wind, breath, exhalation, life, anger, unsubstantiality, a region of the sky, spirit


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OT Poetry: Psalm 51:12 Restore to me the joy of your (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 51:11
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