Repentance
Psalm 51:4
Against you, you only, have I sinned, and done this evil in your sight: that you might be justified when you speak…


There are two kinds of this — the sorrow of the world, and that of God. This latter regards sin as against God. It is the object of sin rather than its consequences that affect Him. For all sin is against God, more than it is against any other being. However it may despise human authority, it involves a greater contempt of His. It is a great error to say of a man that he is nobody's enemy but his own. For "the carnal mind is enmity against God." And this is sin's greatest aggravation, for see how glorious, how holy, how gracious God is. Failure to see this aggravation in our sin is the cause why conviction of sin is often so slight. True repentance equally regards all sin, for every sin is against God. And the reformation that follows such repentance is thorough. No sin can be a trifle, since it is against God.

(W. Nevins, D. D.)



Parallel Verses
KJV: Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

WEB: Against you, and you only, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in your sight; that you may be proved right when you speak, and justified when you judge.




David's Acknowledgment, of God's Justice
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