Psalm 32

The Joy of Forgiveness

Of David. A Maskil.

How joyful is the one
whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered!(A)
How joyful is a person whom
the Lord does not charge with iniquity(B)
and in whose spirit is no deceit!(C)

When I kept silent, my bones became brittle
from my groaning all day long.(D)
For day and night your hand was heavy on me;(E)
my strength was drained[a]
as in the summer’s heat.(F)Selah
Then I acknowledged my sin to you(G)
and did not conceal my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
and you forgave the guilt of my sin.(H)Selah

Therefore let everyone who is faithful pray to you immediately.[b](I)
When great floodwaters come,
they will not reach him.(J)
You are my hiding place;(K)
you protect me from trouble.(L)
You surround me with joyful shouts of deliverance.Selah

I will instruct you and show you the way to go;(M)
with my eye on you, I will give counsel.(N)
Do not be like a horse or mule,
without understanding,
that must be controlled with bit and bridle
or else it will not come near you.(O)

10 Many pains come to the wicked,(P)
but the one who trusts in the Lord
will have faithful love surrounding him.(Q)
11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice,
you righteous ones;
shout for joy,
all you upright in heart.(R)

Footnotes

  1. 32:4 Hb obscure
  2. 32:6 Lit you at a time of finding

Blessedness of Forgiveness and of Trust in God.

A Psalm of David. A [a]Maskil.

32 (A)How blessed is he whose wrongdoing is forgiven,
Whose sin is covered!
How blessed is a person whose guilt the Lord (B)does not take into account,
And in whose spirit there is (C)no deceit!

When (D)I kept silent about my sin, (E)my [b]body 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 failed as with the dry heat of summer. Selah
I (I)acknowledged my sin to You,
And I (J)did not hide my guilt;
I said, “(K)I will confess my wrongdoings to the Lord”;
And You (L)forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah
Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to You [e](M)in a time when You may be found;
Certainly (N)in a flood of great waters, they will not reach him.
You are (O)my hiding place; You (P)keep me from trouble;
You surround me with [f](Q)songs of deliverance. Selah

I will (R)instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go;
I will advise you (S)with My eye upon you.
Do not be (T)like the horse or like the mule, which have no understanding,
Whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check,
Otherwise they will not come near to you.
10 The (U)sorrows of the wicked are many,
But (V)the one who trusts in the Lord, goodness will surround him.
11 Be (W)glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones;
And shout for joy, all you who are (X)upright in heart.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 32 Title Possibly Contemplative; or Didactic; or Skillful Psalm
  2. Psalm 32:3 Or bones, substance
  3. Psalm 32:3 Lit roaring
  4. Psalm 32:4 Lit life juices were turned into the drought of summer
  5. Psalm 32:6 Lit in a time of finding out
  6. Psalm 32:7 Or shouts