Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
Psalm 32
How Blessed Is the Person Whose Rebellion Is Forgiven
Heading
By David. A maskil.[a]
The Joy of Forgiveness
1 How blessed is the person
whose rebellion is forgiven,
whose sin is covered.
2 How blessed is the person
whose guilt the Lord does not charge against him,
in whose spirit there is no deceit.
Obtaining the Joy of Forgiveness
3 When I kept silent,
my bones wasted away as I groaned all day long.
4 For day and night your hand was heavy on me. Interlude
My moisture was dried up by the droughts of summer.
5 I acknowledged my sin to you,
and I did not cover up my guilt.
I said, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord,” Interlude
and you forgave the guilt of my sin.
6 Because of this, let everyone who receives favor pray to you
at a time when you may be found.
Surely when the mighty waters overflow,
they will not reach him.
7 You are my hiding place.
You will protect me from distress. Interlude
You will surround me with shouts of deliverance.
8 A sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination[a] to the Lord,
but a prayer of the upright gains his favor.
9 The way of a wicked person is repulsive[b] to the Lord,
but he loves those who pursue righteousness.
10 Harsh discipline waits for anyone who leaves the path,
and a person who hates correction will die.
11 Death and Destruction[c] lie open before the Lord—
how much more human hearts!
24 The path of life leads upward for a person with insight,
so that he may turn away from hell[a] below.
25 The Lord tears down the house of the arrogant,
but he maintains the property line of a widow.
26 The plans of the wicked are disgusting[b] to the Lord,
but pleasant words are pure to him.
27 Someone who is greedy for gain brings trouble to his own household,
but a person who hates bribes will live.
28 The heart of a righteous person ponders his answer,
but the mouth of a wicked person gushes evil.
29 The Lord is far away from the wicked,
but he hears the prayer of the righteous.
30 A twinkle in the eyes delights the heart,
and good news gives health to the bones.
31 An ear that listens to a life-giving warning
will find a home among the wise.
32 A person who ignores discipline despises himself,
but a person who listens to a warning acquires good sense.
33 The fear of the Lord gives discipline and wisdom,
and humility comes before honor.
Greeting
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
To the church of God that is in Corinth, together with all the saints who are everywhere in Achaia:
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
God Comforts and Rescues Us
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our trouble, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the same comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, so through Christ our comfort also overflows. 6 If we are troubled, it is for your comfort and salvation. If we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you the ability to endure the same sufferings that we are also suffering. 7 Our hope for you is sure, since we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so you also share in our comfort.
8 Brothers,[a] we do not want you to be unaware of the trouble that happened to us in the province of Asia. We were burdened so greatly, so far beyond our ability to bear it, that we even gave up hope of living. 9 Yes, we even felt the sentence of death within ourselves. This happened so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God, who raises the dead. 10 He rescued us from such a terrible death, and he will continue to rescue us. We have set our hope on him that he will also rescue us again, 11 as you join in helping us with your prayers for us. Then many people will thank God for the gracious gift given to us through many prayers.
The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version®, EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved.