Psalms 32

The Blessedness of Forgiven Sin and Honest Confession

beatitude of forgiveness -> bodily misery under hidden sin -> confession and forgiven guilt -> call to timely prayer -> refuge in God -> divine instruction -> warning against stubbornness -> contrast of sorrows and steadfast love -> rejoicing for the upright

World English Bible, Public Domain

Psalms 32:1–5

Blessed is the forgiven man; for while I hid my sin I was exhausted, but when I confessed, God removed my guilt.

1 Blessed is he whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

2 Blessed is the man to whom Yahweh doesn’t impute iniquity, in whose spirit there is no deceit.

3 When I kept silence, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.

4 For day and night your hand was heavy on me. My strength was sapped in the heat of summer.

5 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.

Psalms 32:6–11

Let the faithful seek God now for He is our hiding place; He will guide us with His eye and surround us with unfailing love if we do not remain stubborn.

6 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.

7 You are my hiding place. You will preserve me from trouble. You will surround me with songs of deliverance.

8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you shall go. I will counsel you with my eye on you.

9 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!

Key Terms

אַשְׁרֵי ashrei H835
פֶּשַׁע pesha H6588
נָשָׂא nasa H5375
חֲטָאָה chata'ah H2401
כָּסָה kasah H3680
עָוֹן avon H5771
חָשַׁב chashav H2803
רְמִיָּה remiyyah H7423
חָרַשׁ charash H2790
עֶצֶם etsem H6106
בָּלָה balah H1086

World English Bible (WEB): Public Domain Scripture text · License details