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

Thanksgiving for Forgiveness of Sins

Of David. A maskil.[a]

32 Happy is he whose transgression is taken away,
whose sin is covered.
Happy is a person to whom Yahweh does not impute iniquity
and in whose spirit there is not deceit.
When I kept silent, my bones were worn out
due to my groaning all the day.
For day and night your hand was heavy upon me.
My vigor was changed into the dry heat of summer. Selah
I made known my sin to you, and my iniquity I did not cover.
I said, “I will confess concerning my transgressions to Yahweh,”
and you took away the guilt of my sin. Selah
Therefore let all the faithful pray to you
at the time for finding you.
Surely at the flood of many waters they will not reach him.
You are my hiding place;
from trouble you preserve me.
With cries of deliverance you surround me. Selah
I[b] will instruct you and teach you
in the way that you should go.
I will advise you with my eye upon you.
Do not be like a horse or like a mule, without understanding;
that needs his tackle—bridle and rein—for restraint
or he would not come near you.
10 Many are the pains of the wicked,
but for the one who trusts Yahweh
loyal love surrounds him.
11 Be glad in Yahweh and rejoice, you righteous,
and shout for joy, all you upright of heart.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 32:1 The Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as the first verse of the psalm
  2. Psalm 32:8 Yahweh is speaking in vv. 8–9