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

Psalm 32

A psalm[a] of David.

Oh, what joy for those
    whose disobedience is forgiven,
    whose sin is put out of sight!
Yes, what joy for those
    whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt,[b]
    whose lives are lived in complete honesty!
When I refused to confess my sin,
    my body wasted away,
    and I groaned all day long.
Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me.
    My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. Interlude

Finally, I confessed all my sins to you
    and stopped trying to hide my guilt.
I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.”
    And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. Interlude

Therefore, let all the godly pray to you while there is still time,
    that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment.
For you are my hiding place;
    you protect me from trouble.
    You surround me with songs of victory. Interlude

The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.
    I will advise you and watch over you.
Do not be like a senseless horse or mule
    that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.”

10 Many sorrows come to the wicked,
    but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the Lord.
11 So rejoice in the Lord and be glad, all you who obey him!
    Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!

Footnotes

  1. 32:Title Hebrew maskil. This may be a literary or musical term.
  2. 32:2 Greek version reads of sin. Compare Rom 4:8.

A Contrite Sinner’s Prayer for Pardon.

For the music director. A Psalm of David, when [a]Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.

51 (A)Be gracious to me, God, according to Your faithfulness;
According to the greatness of (B)Your compassion, (C)wipe out my wrongdoings.
(D)Wash me thoroughly from my guilt
And (E)cleanse me from my sin.
For I (F)know my wrongdoings,
And my sin is constantly before me.
(G)Against You, You only, I have sinned
And done what is (H)evil in Your sight,
So that (I)You [b]are justified [c]when You speak
And [d]blameless when You judge.

Behold, I was (J)brought forth in guilt,
And in sin my mother conceived me.
Behold, You desire (K)truth in the [e]innermost being,
And in secret You will (L)make wisdom known to me.
[f]Purify me (M)with hyssop, and I will be clean;
[g]Cleanse me, and I will be (N)whiter than snow.
[h]Let me hear (O)joy and gladness,
Let the (P)bones You have broken rejoice.
(Q)Hide Your face from my sins
And wipe out all my guilty deeds.

10 (R)Create [i]in me a (S)clean heart, God,
And renew a (T)steadfast spirit within me.
11 (U)Do not cast me away from Your presence,
And do not take Your (V)Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the (W)joy of Your salvation,
And sustain me with a (X)willing spirit.
13 Then I will (Y)teach wrongdoers Your ways,
And sinners will [j]be (Z)converted to You.

14 Save me from (AA)the guilt of bloodshed, God, (AB)the God of my salvation;
Then my (AC)tongue will joyfully sing of Your righteousness.
15 Lord, [k](AD)open my lips,
So that my mouth may (AE)declare Your praise.
16 For You (AF)do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it;
You do not take pleasure in burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a (AG)broken spirit;
A broken and a contrite heart, God, You will not despise.

18 (AH)By Your favor do good to Zion;
[l](AI)Build the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then You will delight in [m](AJ)righteous sacrifices,
In (AK)burnt offering and whole burnt offering;
Then [n]bulls will be offered on Your altar.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 51 Title 2 Sam 12:1
  2. Psalm 51:4 Or may be in the right
  3. Psalm 51:4 Many mss in Your words
  4. Psalm 51:4 Lit pure
  5. Psalm 51:6 Or inward parts
  6. Psalm 51:7 Or May You purify...that I may be clean
  7. Psalm 51:7 Or May You cleanse
  8. Psalm 51:8 Or May You cause
  9. Psalm 51:10 Lit for
  10. Psalm 51:13 Or turn back
  11. Psalm 51:15 Or may You open
  12. Psalm 51:18 Or May You build
  13. Psalm 51:19 Or sacrifices of righteousness
  14. Psalm 51:19 Lit they will offer bulls

Psalm 51

For the choir director: A psalm of David, regarding the time Nathan the prophet came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.

Have mercy on me, O God,
    because of your unfailing love.
Because of your great compassion,
    blot out the stain of my sins.
Wash me clean from my guilt.
    Purify me from my sin.
For I recognize my rebellion;
    it haunts me day and night.
Against you, and you alone, have I sinned;
    I have done what is evil in your sight.
You will be proved right in what you say,
    and your judgment against me is just.[a]
For I was born a sinner—
    yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.
But you desire honesty from the womb,[b]
    teaching me wisdom even there.

Purify me from my sins,[c] and I will be clean;
    wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Oh, give me back my joy again;
    you have broken me—
    now let me rejoice.
Don’t keep looking at my sins.
    Remove the stain of my guilt.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God.
    Renew a loyal spirit within me.
11 Do not banish me from your presence,
    and don’t take your Holy Spirit[d] from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
    and make me willing to obey you.
13 Then I will teach your ways to rebels,
    and they will return to you.
14 Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves;
    then I will joyfully sing of your forgiveness.
15 Unseal my lips, O Lord,
    that my mouth may praise you.

16 You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one.
    You do not want a burnt offering.
17 The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit.
    You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.
18 Look with favor on Zion and help her;
    rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then you will be pleased with sacrifices offered in the right spirit—
    with burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings.
    Then bulls will again be sacrificed on your altar.

Footnotes

  1. 51:4 Greek version reads and you will win your case in court. Compare Rom 3:4.
  2. 51:6 Or from the heart; Hebrew reads in the inward parts.
  3. 51:7 Hebrew Purify me with the hyssop branch.
  4. 51:11 Or your spirit of holiness.

Pleading and Trust.

A Prayer of David.

86 (A)Incline Your ear, Lord, and answer me;
For I am (B)afflicted and needy.
(C)Protect my [a]soul, for I am (D)godly;
You my God, save Your servant who (E)trusts in You.
Be (F)gracious to me, Lord,
For (G)I call upon You all day long.
Make the soul of Your servant joyful,
For to You, Lord, (H)I lift up my soul.
For You, Lord, are (I)good, and (J)ready to forgive,
And (K)abundant in mercy to all who call upon You.
(L)Listen, Lord, to my prayer;
And give Your attention to the sound of my pleading!
On (M)the day of my trouble I will call upon You,
For (N)You will answer me.
There is (O)no one like You among the gods, Lord,
Nor are there any works (P)like Yours.
(Q)All nations whom You have made will come and worship before You, Lord,
And they will glorify Your name.
10 For You are (R)great, and you (S)do [b]wondrous deeds;
You alone (T)are God.

11 (U)Teach me Your way, Lord;
I will walk in Your truth;
(V)Unite my heart to fear Your name.
12 I will (W)give thanks to You, Lord my God, with all my heart,
And I will glorify Your name forever.
13 For Your graciousness toward me is great,
And You have (X)saved my soul from the [c]depths of [d]Sheol.

14 God, arrogant men have (Y)risen up against me,
And a gang of violent men have sought my [e]life,
And they have not set You before them.
15 But You, Lord, are a (Z)compassionate and gracious God,
Slow to anger and abundant in mercy and [f]truth.
16 (AA)Turn to me, and be gracious to me;
(AB)Grant Your strength to Your servant,
And save the (AC)son of Your maidservant.
17 (AD)Show me a sign of good,
That those who hate me may (AE)see it and be ashamed,
Because You, Lord, (AF)have helped me and comforted me.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 86:2 Or life
  2. Psalm 86:10 Or miracles
  3. Psalm 86:13 Lit lowest Sheol
  4. Psalm 86:13 I.e., the netherworld
  5. Psalm 86:14 Lit soul
  6. Psalm 86:15 Or faithfulness

Psalm 86

A prayer of David.

Bend down, O Lord, and hear my prayer;
    answer me, for I need your help.
Protect me, for I am devoted to you.
    Save me, for I serve you and trust you.
    You are my God.
Be merciful to me, O Lord,
    for I am calling on you constantly.
Give me happiness, O Lord,
    for I give myself to you.
O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive,
    so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help.
Listen closely to my prayer, O Lord;
    hear my urgent cry.
I will call to you whenever I’m in trouble,
    and you will answer me.

No pagan god is like you, O Lord.
    None can do what you do!
All the nations you made
    will come and bow before you, Lord;
    they will praise your holy name.
10 For you are great and perform wonderful deeds.
    You alone are God.

11 Teach me your ways, O Lord,
    that I may live according to your truth!
Grant me purity of heart,
    so that I may honor you.
12 With all my heart I will praise you, O Lord my God.
    I will give glory to your name forever,
13 for your love for me is very great.
    You have rescued me from the depths of death.[a]

14 O God, insolent people rise up against me;
    a violent gang is trying to kill me.
    You mean nothing to them.
15 But you, O Lord,
    are a God of compassion and mercy,
slow to get angry
    and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.
16 Look down and have mercy on me.
    Give your strength to your servant;
    save me, the son of your servant.
17 Send me a sign of your favor.
    Then those who hate me will be put to shame,
    for you, O Lord, help and comfort me.

Footnotes

  1. 86:13 Hebrew of Sheol.

Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem.

A Song of Ascents, of David.

122 I was glad when they said to me,
“Let’s (A)go to the house of the Lord.”
Our feet are standing
Within your (B)gates, Jerusalem,
Jerusalem, that has been (C)built
As a city that is (D)firmly joined together;
To which the tribes (E)go up, the tribes of [a]the Lord
[b]An ordinance for Israel—
To give thanks to the name of the Lord.
For (F)thrones were set there for judgment,
The thrones of the house of David.

Pray for the (G)peace of Jerusalem:
“May they prosper who (H)love you.
May peace be within your (I)walls,
And prosperity within your (J)palaces.”
For the sake of my (K)brothers and my friends,
I will now say, “(L)May peace be within you.”
For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
I will (M)seek your good.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 122:4 Heb Yah
  2. Psalm 122:4 Or A testimony

Psalm 122

A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem. A psalm of David.

I was glad when they said to me,
    “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”
And now here we are,
    standing inside your gates, O Jerusalem.
Jerusalem is a well-built city;
    its seamless walls cannot be breached.
All the tribes of Israel—the Lord’s people—
    make their pilgrimage here.
They come to give thanks to the name of the Lord,
    as the law requires of Israel.
Here stand the thrones where judgment is given,
    the thrones of the dynasty of David.

Pray for peace in Jerusalem.
    May all who love this city prosper.
O Jerusalem, may there be peace within your walls
    and prosperity in your palaces.
For the sake of my family and friends, I will say,
    “May you have peace.”
For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
    I will seek what is best for you, O Jerusalem.