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.
Presumptuous (sins). He does not say, Cleanse me from presumptuous sins, but keep me back from them. These were not sins to which he was readily prone, but he felt that the "errors" and "secret faults," if not checked and 'cleansed,' would lead on to the "presumptuous" or deliberate sins, from which he therefore prays to be 'kept back.' Others translate the Hebrew х mizeediym (H2086), not mizaariym as the Septuagint ap' allotrioon], 'from the proud,' as in Psalms 86:14; Malachi 4:1. But the anti-thesis to the parallel words, "errors" and "secret faults" - i:e., sins of infirmity-requires the English version, "presumptuous sins" - i:e., sins of deliberation (Deuteronomy 17:12; margin, Daniel 5:20). An analogous distinction appears in the New Testament between sins of negligence and sins of willful resistance of light, for which there remaineth no more sacrifice (Hebrews 10:26-31), Translate, 'presumptuous ones,' referring still to sins.
Dominion over me. Presumptuous sins are personified as tyrants striving to enslave God's servants. How beautifully the promise of God's Word answers to the prayer here (Romans 6:14), "Sin shall not have dominion over you"! So God did keep back from evil Abimelech; also David himself from taking vengeance on Nabal. If David had prayed so in the case of Uriah and Bathsheba, he would have been kept from the great sin of his life.
From the great transgression - even though I still have "errors" and "secret faults" cleaving to me; "the great transgression" is the climax of the "presumptuous sins" (Psalms 19:13) х pesha` (H6588)] - namely, entire falling away from God; 'rebellion' (as the Hebrew is translated, Job 34:37), apostasy. The Hebrew for "innocent" х niqeeytiy (H5352)] is a form of the same word as in Psalms 19:12 х naqeeniy (H5352)], "Cleanse thou me," or 'clear thou me;' 'then shall I be clear of the great transgression.'
Then - i:e., if thou keepest me from presumptuous sins, which are the forerunners of "the great transgression."