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Psalm 32

Of David. A maskil.[a]

Blessed is the one
    whose transgressions are forgiven,
    whose sins are covered.(A)
Blessed is the one
    whose sin the Lord does not count against them(B)
    and in whose spirit is no deceit.(C)

When I kept silent,(D)
    my bones wasted away(E)
    through my groaning(F) all day long.
For day and night
    your hand was heavy(G) on me;
my strength was sapped(H)
    as in the heat of summer.[b]

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)

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)
You are my hiding place;(Q)
    you will protect me from trouble(R)
    and surround me with songs of deliverance.(S)

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.
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

  1. Psalm 32:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  2. Psalm 32:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 5 and 7.

Psalm 32[a]

The Joy of Being Forgiven

Of David. A maskil.[b]

[c]Blessed is the one whose offense is forgiven,
    whose sin is erased.
Blessed is the one to whom the Lord charges no guilt
    and in whose spirit there is no guile.
As long as I remained silent,[d]
    my body wasted away
    as the result of my groaning throughout the day.
For day and night
    your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength withered steadily
    as though consumed by the summer heat.[e] Selah
Then I acknowledged my sin to you,
    and I made no attempt to conceal my guilt.
I said, “I will confess my offenses[f] to the Lord,”
    and you removed the guilt of my sin. Selah
Therefore, let everyone who is faithful pray to you
    where you may be found.[g]
Even if great floods threaten,
    they will never reach him.
You are a place of refuge for me;
    you preserve me from trouble
    and surround me with songs of deliverance.[h] Selah
I will instruct you
    and guide you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you
    and keep my eyes upon you.
Do not behave without understanding
    like a horse or a mule;
if its temper is not curbed with bit and bridle,
    it will not come near you.
10 The wicked has a multitude of troubles,
    but the man who trusts in the Lord
    is surrounded by kindness.[i]
11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous;
    shout for joy, all you upright of heart.[j]

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 32:1 This is the second of the seven Penitential Psalms (6; 32; 38; 51; 102; 130; 143), a joyous testimony of gratitude for God’s gift of forgiveness for those who confess their sins and follow the law of God. Instead of constantly pondering their sins, believers acknowledge their wretchedness before God and accept forgiveness and reconciliation. Their torment ceases, and a new person is born, overwhelmed by grace, confidence, and a sense of obedience.
    In praying this psalm, we can focus not only on the happiness resulting from the forgiveness of particular sin but also on the more profound happiness obtained by the complete victory given us by God in Christ over sin under all its forms.
  2. Psalm 32:1 Maskil: this term cannot be given a precise translation; perhaps it means “teaching” or “training.”
  3. Psalm 32:1 Joyous declaration of the happiness of having one’s sins forgiven by God (see Pss 65:5; 85:2; Job 31:33). This text is cited by Paul in Rom 4:7-8. Blessed: see note on Ps 1:1.
  4. Psalm 32:3 I remained silent: did not confess the sin before God. Body: literally, “bones.”
  5. Psalm 32:4 According to St. Augustine, even before penitents acknowledge their sin, God hears the cry of their heart and pardons it because of their true contrition (see 2 Sam 12:13).
  6. Psalm 32:5 Sin . . . guilt . . . offenses: these are the three most common Hebrew words for evil thoughts and actions (see Ps 51:3-4; Isa 59:12).
  7. Psalm 32:6 The psalmist encourages the godly to draw near to God; even in the greatest adversities, the Lord will protect them. Where . . . found: another version is: “in time of distress.” Great floods: symbol of grave danger (see note on Ps 18:17).
  8. Psalm 32:7 After receiving God’s help, the psalmist will be surrounded by people celebrating this latest act of deliverance while he brings thank offerings.
  9. Psalm 32:10 Kindness: see note on Ps 6:5.
  10. Psalm 32:11 Heart: see note on Ps 4:8.

32 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.

When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.

For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.

I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.

Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.

I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.

Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.

10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall compass him about.

11 Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.

La confessione libera dal peccato

32 Di Davide. Maskil.

Beato l'uomo a cui è rimessa la colpa,
e perdonato il peccato.
Beato l'uomo a cui Dio non imputa alcun male
e nel cui spirito non è inganno.

Tacevo e si logoravano le mie ossa,
mentre gemevo tutto il giorno.
Giorno e notte pesava su di me la tua mano,
come per arsura d'estate inaridiva il mio vigore.

Ti ho manifestato il mio peccato,
non ho tenuto nascosto il mio errore.
Ho detto: «Confesserò al Signore le mie colpe»
e tu hai rimesso la malizia del mio peccato.

Per questo ti prega ogni fedele
nel tempo dell'angoscia.
Quando irromperanno grandi acque
non lo potranno raggiungere.
Tu sei il mio rifugio, mi preservi dal pericolo,
mi circondi di esultanza per la salvezza.

Ti farò saggio, t'indicherò la via da seguire;
con gli occhi su di te, ti darò consiglio.
Non siate come il cavallo e come il mulo
privi d'intelligenza;
si piega la loro fierezza con morso e briglie,
se no, a te non si avvicinano.

10 Molti saranno i dolori dell'empio,
ma la grazia circonda chi confida nel Signore.
11 Gioite nel Signore ed esultate, giusti,
giubilate, voi tutti, retti di cuore.

You Forgave the Iniquity of My Sin

Of David. A [a]Maskil.

32 (A)How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
Whose sin is covered!
How blessed is the man whose iniquity Yahweh (B)will not take into account,
And in whose spirit there is (C)no deceit!

When (D)I kept silent about my sin, (E)my [b]bones wasted away
Through my [c](F)groaning all day long.
For day and night (G)Your hand was heavy upon me;
My [d](H)vitality was drained away as with the heat of summer. [e]Selah.
I (I)acknowledged my sin to You,
And my iniquity I (J)did not cover up;
I said, “(K)I will confess my transgressions to Yahweh;”
And You (L)forgave the [f]iniquity of my sin. Selah.
Therefore, let every holy one pray to You [g](M)at a time when You may be found;
Surely (N)in a flood of great waters they will not reach him.
You are (O)my hiding place; You (P)guard me from trouble;
You surround me with [h](Q)songs of deliverance. Selah.

I will (R)give you insight and teach you in the way which you should go;
I will counsel you (S)with My eye upon you.
Do not be (T)as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding,
Whose harness are bit and bridle to control them,
Otherwise they will not come near you.
10 Many are the (U)sorrows of the wicked,
But (V)he who trusts in Yahweh, lovingkindness shall surround him.
11 Be (W)glad in Yahweh and rejoice, you righteous ones;
And shout for joy, all you who are (X)upright in heart.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 32 Title Possibly Contemplative, Didactic, Skillful Psalm
  2. Psalm 32:3 Or substance
  3. Psalm 32:3 Lit roaring
  4. Psalm 32:4 Lit life juices were turned into the drought of summer
  5. Psalm 32:4 Selah may mean Pause, Crescendo, Musical Interlude
  6. Psalm 32:5 Or guilt
  7. Psalm 32:6 Lit in a time of finding out
  8. Psalm 32:7 Or shouts