The Joy of Forgiveness

A Psalm of David. A [a]Contemplation.

32 Blessed is he whose (A)transgression is forgiven,
Whose sin is covered.
Blessed is the man to whom the Lord (B)does not [b]impute iniquity,
And (C)in whose spirit there is no deceit.

When I kept silent, my bones grew old
Through my groaning all the day long.
For day and night Your (D)hand was heavy upon me;
My vitality was turned into the drought of summer. Selah
I acknowledged my sin to You,
And my iniquity I have not hidden.
(E)I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
And You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah

(F)For this cause everyone who is godly shall (G)pray to You
In a time when You may be found;
Surely in a flood of great waters
They shall not come near him.
(H)You are my hiding place;
You shall preserve me from trouble;
You shall surround me with (I)songs of deliverance. Selah

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will guide you with My eye.
Do not be like the (J)horse or like the mule,
Which have no understanding,
Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle,
Else they will not come near you.

10 (K)Many sorrows shall be to the wicked;
But (L)he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him.
11 (M)Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous;
And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 32:1 Heb. Maschil
  2. Psalm 32:2 charge his account with

A psalm by David; a maskil.[a]

32 Blessed is the person whose disobedience is forgiven
and whose sin is pardoned.
Blessed is the person whom the Lord no longer accuses of sin
and who has no deceitful thoughts.

When I kept silent ⌞about my sins⌟,
my bones began to weaken because of my groaning all day long.
Day and night your hand laid heavily on me.
My strength shriveled in the summer heat. Selah

I made my sins known to you, and I did not cover up my guilt.
I decided to confess them to you, O Lord.
Then you forgave all my sins. Selah

For this reason let all godly people pray to you
when you may be found.
Then raging floodwater will not reach them.

You are my hiding place.
You protect me from trouble.
You surround me with joyous songs of salvation. Selah

⌞The Lord says,⌟
“I will instruct you.
I will teach you the way that you should go.
I will advise you as my eyes watch over you.
Don’t be stubborn like a horse or mule.
⌞They need⌟ a bit and bridle in their mouth to restrain them,
or they will not come near you.”

10 Many heartaches await wicked people,
but mercy surrounds those who trust the Lord.

11 Be glad and find joy in the Lord, you righteous people.
Sing with joy, all whose motives are decent.

Footnotes

  1. 32:0 Unknown musical term.