Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; build up the walls of Jerusalem;
English Standard Version (ESV)
Even though David’s sin was immense, he still prays for God's favor toward Zion and the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls, demonstrating that a restored relationship with God inspires concern for the community of faith, not just personal solace. The prayer for building the walls signifies God's active work in strengthening His people, not just accepting their repentance.
Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; build up the walls of Jerusalem;
English Standard Version (ESV)
After pouring out his heart in confession and pleading for mercy, the psalmist shifts from personal repentance to intercession for God's people. He prays for God's continued favor and rebuilding of Zion and Jerusalem, recognizing that these acts depend not on his merit, but on God's own good pleasure. This hopeful plea for the restoration and strengthening of the community points towards the future blessings God intends for His people.
After pouring out his heart over personal sin, David shifts his focus. What does it mean to pray for God's 'good pleasure'?
David's plea in verse 18, "Do good in your good pleasure unto Zion," isn't a demand, but a humble request rooted in God's own will. The phrase "good pleasure" points to God's sovereign, gracious purpose and delight in His people and His city, Zion.
David prays for the walls of Jerusalem to be built. Is this just about bricks and mortar, or something much deeper?
The request to "build thou the walls of Jerusalem" goes beyond mere physical reconstruction. In the context of Psalm 51, after profound personal repentance, this prayer signifies:
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Understand the original words
Tsiyyon · Hebrew Proper Noun
The city of David, symbolizing the dwelling place of God’s presence and the focal point of covenant worship and community.
Yerushalayim · Hebrew Proper Noun
The capital of Israel and the site of the Temple, representing the gathered community of God and the place where His holiness resides among His people.
While Psalm 51 is traditionally attributed to David, verses 18-19, praying for Zion and the walls of Jerusalem to be rebuilt, strongly suggest a later historical context. They likely reflect the hopes and prayers of the exiles during the Babylonian captivity and the subsequent period of rebuilding under leaders like Nehemiah, looking forward to God's restoration of His people and city.
c. 992 BC— this verse
David's Reign and Temple Plans
King David, after establishing his kingdom and experiencing God's forgiveness for his sins (as detailed in Psalm 51), had plans to build a magnificent temple in Jerusalem. However, due to his involvement in warfare, he was forbidden by God to build it himself, with the task assigned to his son Solomon.
c. 970-931 BC
Solomon Builds the Temple
King Solomon, David's son, successfully built the First Temple in Jerusalem, fulfilling the plans that David had initiated. This was a period of great prosperity and religious devotion.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and First Temple
The Babylonian Empire, under Nebuchadnezzar II, conquered Jerusalem, destroyed the city's walls, and razed the First Temple. This marked the beginning of the Babylonian exile for the Judean people.
538 BC
Cyrus's Decree and Return from Exile
The Persian King Cyrus the Great issued a decree allowing the exiled Judeans to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple. This marked the end of the Babylonian captivity.
c. 445 BC
Nehemiah Rebuilds Jerusalem's Walls
Nehemiah, returning from exile, led the effort to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, which had remained in ruins for decades, facing significant opposition from surrounding peoples. This event directly relates to the prayer in Psalm 51:18.
This passage directly prophesies Cyrus, the Persian king, as God's shepherd who will decree the rebuilding of Jerusalem and its temple, echoing the prayer in Psalm 51:18 for Jerusalem's restoration.
Nehemiah 2:17Nehemiah, facing opposition, urges his people to see their miserable state and calls them to action: 'Let us rise up and build.' This reflects the spirit of Psalm 51:18's prayer to build up the walls, showing a similar desire for restoration after destruction.
Zechariah 1:16Zechariah proclaims God's return to Jerusalem with compassion, stating, 'My house shall be built in it.' This directly connects with the petition in Psalm 51:18 to build up the city, emphasizing God's active role in its reconstruction.
Acts 15:16Quoting Amos, this New Testament passage speaks of God's plan to 'rebuild the fallen tent of David.' This broadens the concept of rebuilding from a literal city to the restoration of God's people and kingdom, aligning with the spiritual understanding of 'Zion' and 'Jerusalem' in Psalm 51:18.
gillPsalms 51:18: "Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem."
Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion,.... This verse, and Psalm 51:19 , are thought, by a Spanish Rabbi mentioned by Aben Ezra, to have been added by one of the holy men that lived in the time of the Babylonish captivity; though rather it is thought, by the latter, to be written by David, under a spirit of prophecy, concerning, times to come; and so Kimchi thinks they are prophetic of future things; of…
calvinPsalms 51:16-19: "For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering."
- For thou wilt not accept a sacrifice; though I should give [271] a burnt offering, it would not please thee. 17. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God! thou wilt not despise. 18. Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion; build thou the walls of Jerusalem. 19. Thou shalt then accept the sacrifices of righteousness, even the burnt-offering an…
Even though David’s sin was immense, he still prays for God's favor toward Zion and the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls, demonstrating that a restored relationship with God inspires concern for the community of faith, not just personal solace. The prayer for building the walls signifies God's active work in strengthening His people, not just accepting their repentance.
After pouring out his heart in confession and pleading for mercy, the psalmist shifts from personal repentance to intercession for God's people. He prays for God's continued favor and rebuilding of Zion and Jerusalem, recognizing that these acts depend not on his merit, but on God's own good pleasure. This hopeful plea for the restoration and strengthening of the community points towards the future blessings God intends for His people.
After pouring out his heart in confession and pleading for mercy, the psalmist shifts from personal repentance to intercession for God's people. He prays for God's continued favor and rebuilding of Zion and Jerusalem, recognizing that these acts depend not on his merit, but on God's own good pleasure. This hopeful plea for the restoration and strengthening of the community points towards the future blessings God intends for His people.
"Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; build up the walls of Jerusalem;" — Even though David’s sin was immense, he still prays for God's favor toward Zion and the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls, demonstrating that a restored relationship with God inspires concern for the c…
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Last reviewed October 2026