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By David. A contemplative psalm.

32 Blessed is he whose disobedience is forgiven,
    whose sin is covered.
Blessed is the man to whom Yahweh doesn’t impute iniquity,
    in whose spirit there is no deceit.
When I kept silence, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.
For day and night your hand was heavy on me.
    My strength was sapped in the heat of summer. Selah.
I acknowledged my sin to you.
    I didn’t hide my iniquity.
I said, I will confess my transgressions to Yahweh,
    and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah.
For this, let everyone who is godly pray to you in a time when you may be found.
    Surely when the great waters overflow, they shall not reach to him.
You are my hiding place.
    You will preserve me from trouble.
    You will surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah.
I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you shall go.
    I will counsel you with my eye on you.
Don’t be like the horse, or like the mule, which have no understanding,
    who are controlled by bit and bridle, or else they will not come near to you.
10 Many sorrows come to the wicked,
    but loving kindness shall surround him who trusts in Yahweh.
11 Be glad in Yahweh, and rejoice, you righteous!
    Shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart!

A Davidic instruction.[a]

The Blessings of Forgiveness

32 How blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,
    whose sin is covered.
How blessed is the person against whom the Lord does not charge iniquity,
    and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

When I kept silent about my sin,[b]
    my body[c] wasted away
        by my groaning all day long.
For your hand was heavy upon me day and night;
    my strength was exhausted
        as in a summer drought.
Interlude

My sin I acknowledged to you;
    my iniquity I did not hide.
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.”
    And you forgave the guilt of my sin!
Interlude

Therefore every godly person should pray to you at such a time.[d]
    Surely a flood of great waters will not reach him.
You are my hiding place;
    you will deliver me from trouble
        and surround me with shouts of deliverance.
Interlude

I will instruct you and teach you
    concerning the path you should walk;
        I will direct you with my eye.
Don’t be like a horse or mule,
    without understanding.
They are held in check by a bit and bridle in their mouths;
    otherwise they will not remain near you.

10 The wicked have many sorrows,
    but gracious love surrounds those who trust in the Lord.
11 Righteous ones, be glad in the Lord and rejoice!
    Shout for joy, all of you who are upright in heart!

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 32:1 Lit. maskil
  2. Psalm 32:3 The Heb. lacks about my sin
  3. Psalm 32:3 Lit. bones
  4. Psalm 32:6 Lit. at a time of finding