Psalms32
New American Standard
1 How blessed is he whose wrongdoing is forgiven, Whose sin is covered!
2 How blessed is a person whose guilt the Lord does not take into account, And in whose spirit there is no deceit!
3 When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away Through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality failed as with the dry heat of summer. Selah
5 I acknowledged my sin to You, And I did not hide my guilt; I said, “I will confess my wrongdoings to the Lord”; And You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah
6 Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to You in a time when You may be found; Certainly in a flood of great waters, they will not reach him.
7 You are my hiding place; You keep me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will advise you with My eye upon you.
9 Do not be 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 sorrows of the wicked are many, But the one who trusts in the Lord, goodness will surround him.
11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones; And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.
Study
Psalms 32Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Psalms 32. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The happiness of a pardoned sinner. (1, 2). The misery that went before, and the comfort that followed the confession of sins. (3–7). Sinners instructed, believers encouraged. (8–11).
vv1-2
Sin is the cause of our misery; but the true believer's transgressions of the Divine law are all forgiven, being covered with the atonement. Christ bare his sins, therefore they are not imputed to him. The righteousness of Christ being reckoned to us, and we being made the righteousness of God in him, our iniquity is not imputed, God having laid upon him the iniquity of us all, and made him a sin-offering for us. Not to impute sin, is God's act, for he is the Judge. It is God that justifies. Notice the character of him whose sins are pardoned; he is sincere, and seeks sanctification by the power of the Holy Ghost. He does not profess to repent, with an intention to indulge in sin, because the Lord is ready to forgive. He will not abuse the doctrine of free grace. And to the man whose iniquity is forgiven, all manner of blessings are promised.
vv3-7
It is very difficult to bring sinful man humbly to accept free mercy, with a full confession of his sins and self-condemnation. But the true and only way to peace of conscience, is, to confess our sins, that they may be forgiven; to declare them that we may be justified. Although repentance and confession do not merit the pardon of transgression, they are needful to the real enjoyment of forgiving mercy. And what tongue can tell the happiness of that hour, when the soul, oppressed by sin, is enabled freely to pour forth its sorrows before God, and to take hold of his covenanted mercy in Christ Jesus! Those that would speed in prayer, must seek the Lord, when, by his providence, he calls them to seek him, and, by his Spirit, stirs them up to seek him. In a time of finding, when the heart is softened with grief, and burdened with guilt; when all human refuge fails; when no rest can be found to the troubled mind, then it is that God applies the healing balm by his Spirit.
vv8-11
God teaches by his word, and guides with the secret intimations of his will. David gives a word of caution to sinners. The reason for this caution is, that the way of sin will certainly end in sorrow. Here is a word of comfort to saints. They may see that a life of communion with God is far the most pleasant and comfortable. Let us rejoice, O Lord Jesus, in thee, and in thy salvation; so shall we rejoice indeed.
Key Words
מַשְׂכִּיל: instructive, i.e. a didactic poem
דָּוִד: David, the youngest son of Jesse
אֶשֶׁר: happiness; only in masculine plural construction as interjection, how happy!
פֶּשַׁע: a revolt (national, moral or religious)
נָשָׂא: to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative
חֲטָאָה: an offence, or a sacrifice forit
כָּסָה: properly, to plump, i.e. fill up hollows; by implication, to cover (for clothing or secrecy)
אָדָם: ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
חָשַׁב: properly, to plait or interpenetrate, i.e. (literally) to weave or (generally) to fabricate; figuratively, to plot or contrive (usually in a malicious sense); hence (from the mental effort) to think, regard, value, compute
לֹא: not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
Cross References
Psalms 32Paul explicitly quotes Psalm 32:1-2 to define the New Testament gospel doctrine of the righteousness of faith.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Direct parallel showing that he who covers his sins fails, but he who confesses finds mercy.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
The historical context of David's confession to Nathan and immediate declaration of God's forgiveness.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Echoes seeking the Lord in 'a time when he may be found' before judgment comes.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallels the heavy pressure of God's hand and the wasting away of bodily health under conviction.
Supported by JFB
Illuminates a spirit in which there is 'no guile' or deceit, as commended in Nathanael.
Supported by John Calvin
David's deep, parallel confession of personal sin and guilt from his penitential experience.
Supported by JFB
Fulfills David's vow to teach transgressors God's ways once restored and forgiven.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Whip for the horse and bridle for the ass; parallel imagery of untamed animals needing restraint.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Poetic parallel of forgiving iniquity and covering all of the people's sin.
Supported by JFB
Parallel of confessing that one has sinned and perverted what was right, and being spared.
Supported by John Calvin
The Mosaic law's requirement that the people must confess their iniquity to receive covenant mercy.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Direct verbal link calling the righteous to rejoice and praise the Lord.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Contrasts the blessedness of the undefiled who keep the law with the pardoned sinner.
Supported by Matthew Poole