Psalm 32
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Psalm 32
The Joy of Forgiveness
Of David. A Maskil.
1 Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered.(A)
2 Happy are those to whom the Lord imputes no iniquity
and in whose spirit there is no deceit.(B)
3 While I kept silent, my body wasted away
through my groaning all day long.(C)
4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was dried up[a] as by the heat of summer. Selah(D)
5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you,
and I did not hide my iniquity;
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah(E)
6 Therefore let all who are faithful
offer prayer to you;
at a time of distress,[b] the rush of mighty waters
shall not reach them.(F)
7 You are a hiding place for me;
you preserve me from trouble;
you surround me with glad cries of deliverance. Selah(G)
8 I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my eye upon you.(H)
9 Do not be like a horse or a mule, without understanding,
whose temper must be curbed with bit and bridle,
else it will not stay near you.(I)
Psalm 32
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition
32 A psalm for David. Rejoice in the Lord, O ye just: praise becometh the upright.
2 Give praise to the Lord on the harp; sing to him with the psaltery, the instrument of ten strings.
3 Sing to him a new canticle, sing well unto him with a loud noise.
4 For the word of the Lord is right, and all his works are done with faithfulness.
5 He loveth mercy and judgment; the earth is full of the mercy of the Lord.
6 By the word of the Lord the heavens were established; and all the power of them by the spirit of his mouth:
7 Gathering together the waters of the sea, as in a vessel; laying up the depths in storehouses.
8 Let all the earth fear the Lord, and let all the inhabitants of the world be in awe of him.
9 For he spoke and they were made: he commanded and they were created.
10 The Lord bringeth to naught the counsels of nations; and he rejecteth the devices of people, and casteth away the counsels of princes.
11 But the counsel of the Lord standeth for ever: the thoughts of his heart to all generations.
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord: the people whom he hath chosen for his inheritance.
13 The Lord hath looked from heaven: he hath beheld all the sons of men.
14 From his habitation which he hath prepared, he hath looked upon all that dwell on the earth.
15 He who hath made the hearts of every one of them: who understandeth all their works.
16 The king is not saved by a great army: nor shall the giant be saved by his own great strength.
17 Vain is the horse for safety: neither shall he be saved by the abundance of his strength.
18 Behold the eyes of the Lord are on them that fear him: and on them that hope in his mercy.
19 To deliver their souls from death; and feed them in famine.
20 Our soul waiteth for the Lord: for he is our helper and protector.
21 For in him our heart shall rejoice: and in his holy name we have trusted.
22 Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, as we have hoped in thee.
Psalm 32
The Message
32 Count yourself lucky, how happy you must be—
you get a fresh start,
your slate’s wiped clean.
2 Count yourself lucky—
God holds nothing against you
and you’re holding nothing back from him.
3 When I kept it all inside,
my bones turned to powder,
my words became daylong groans.
4 The pressure never let up;
all the juices of my life dried up.
5 Then I let it all out;
I said, “I’ll come clean about my failures to God.”
Suddenly the pressure was gone—
my guilt dissolved,
my sin disappeared.
6 These things add up. Every one of us needs to pray;
when all hell breaks loose and the dam bursts
we’ll be on high ground, untouched.
7 God’s my island hideaway,
keeps danger far from the shore,
throws garlands of hosannas around my neck.
8 Let me give you some good advice;
I’m looking you in the eye
and giving it to you straight:
9 “Don’t be ornery like a horse or mule
that needs bit and bridle
to stay on track.”
10 God-defiers are always in trouble;
God-affirmers find themselves loved
every time they turn around.
11 Celebrate God.
Sing together—everyone!
All you honest hearts, raise the roof!
Psalm 32
New International Version
Psalm 32
Of David. A maskil.[a]
1 Blessed is the one
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.(A)
2 Blessed is the one
whose sin the Lord does not count against them(B)
and in whose spirit is no deceit.(C)
3 When I kept silent,(D)
my bones wasted away(E)
through my groaning(F) all day long.
4 For day and night
your hand was heavy(G) on me;
my strength was sapped(H)
as in the heat of summer.[b]
5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you
and did not cover up my iniquity.(I)
I said, “I will confess(J)
my transgressions(K) to the Lord.”
And you forgave
the guilt of my sin.(L)
6 Therefore let all the faithful pray to you
while you may be found;(M)
surely the rising(N) of the mighty waters(O)
will not reach them.(P)
7 You are my hiding place;(Q)
you will protect me from trouble(R)
and surround me with songs of deliverance.(S)
8 I will instruct(T) you and teach you(U) in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my loving eye on(V) you.
9 Do not be like the horse or the mule,
which have no understanding
but must be controlled by bit and bridle(W)
or they will not come to you.
10 Many are the woes of the wicked,(X)
but the Lord’s unfailing love
surrounds the one who trusts(Y) in him.
11 Rejoice in the Lord(Z) and be glad, you righteous;
sing, all you who are upright in heart!
Footnotes
- Psalm 32:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
- Psalm 32:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 5 and 7.
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