Psalms 32
Berean Standard Bible · Compare translations · 1010 BC – 970 BC · United kingdom · Tap a verse to copy, share or highlight ·
11 verses · 220 words · ~1 min read · ~1 min listen
The Joy of Forgiveness
Of David. A Maskil.
1Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.
2Blessed is the man
whose iniquity the Lord does not count against him,
in whose spirit there is no deceit.
3When I kept silent, my bones became brittle
from my groaning all day long.
4For day and night
Your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was drained
as in the summer heat.
Selah
5Then I acknowledged my sin to You
and did not hide my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
and You forgave the guilt of my sin.
Selah
6Therefore let all the godly pray to You
while You may be found.
Surely when great waters rise,
they will not come near.
7You are my hiding place.
You protect me from trouble;
You surround me with songs of deliverance.
Selah
8I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go;
I will give you counsel and watch over you.
9Do not be like the horse or mule,
which have no understanding;
they must be controlled with bit and bridle
to make them come to you.
10Many are the sorrows of the wicked,
but loving devotion surrounds him who trusts in the Lord.
11Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, O righteous ones;
shout for joy, all you upright in heart.
Footnotes (3)
- a v1 LXX Blessed is he whose lawless acts are forgiven, whose sins are covered; cited in Romans 4:7
- b v2 LXX Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him; cited in Romans 4:8
- c v4 Or my vitality was turned
Study notes on this chapter · 1
QuotationLinked by the New Testament
Abraham believed God and it was counted as righteousness
Paul builds his argument for justification by faith on Genesis 15:6 and on David's words about the one whose sin is covered. James quotes the same verse to argue that faith shows itself in works. Traditions differ on how to harmonize Paul and James, but each writer is quoting the same verse.
When: Genesis (traditionally c. 2000 BC); Romans c. AD 57; Galatians c. AD 48–55; James (c. AD 45–60 or later).
Ways people read this (3)
- Paul and James address different questions: how a person is counted righteous versus what genuine faith looks like.
- Paul and James use 'justify' in different senses (declared righteous versus shown to be righteous).
- Some interpreters see a genuine tension between the two letters that cannot be fully smoothed over.
Editorial note by BibleWay. Interpretations vary; dates are approximate scholarly estimates.