1 [[A Psalm of David, H1732 Maschil.]] H4905 Blessed H835 is he whose transgression H6588 is forgiven, H5375 whose sin H2401 is covered. H3680
2 Blessed H835 is the man H120 unto whom the LORD H3068 imputeth H2803 not iniquity, H5771 and in whose spirit H7307 there is no guile. H7423
3 When I kept silence, H2790 my bones H6106 waxed old H1086 through my roaring H7581 all the day H3117 long.
4 For day H3119 and night H3915 thy hand H3027 was heavy H3513 upon me: my moisture H3955 is turned H2015 into the drought H2725 of summer. H7019 Selah. H5542
5 I acknowledged H3045 my sin H2403 unto thee, and mine iniquity H5771 have I not hid. H3680 I said, H559 I will confess H3034 my transgressions H6588 unto the LORD; H3068 and thou forgavest H5375 the iniquity H5771 of my sin. H2403 Selah. H5542
6 For this shall every one that is godly H2623 pray H6419 unto thee in a time H6256 when thou mayest be found: H4672 surely in the floods H7858 of great H7227 waters H4325 they shall not come nigh H5060 unto him.
7 Thou art my hiding place; H5643 thou shalt preserve H5341 me from trouble; H6862 thou shalt compass H5437 me about with songs H7438 of deliverance. H6405 Selah. H5542
8 I will instruct H7919 thee and teach H3384 thee in the way H1870 which H2098 thou shalt go: H3212 I will guide H3289 thee with mine eye. H5869
9 Be ye not as the horse, H5483 or as the mule, H6505 which have no understanding: H995 whose mouth H5716 must be held H1102 in with bit H4964 and bridle, H7448 lest H1077 they come near H7126 unto thee.
10 Many H7227 sorrows H4341 shall be to the wicked: H7563 but he that trusteth H982 in the LORD, H3068 mercy H2617 shall compass H5437 him about.
11 Be glad H8055 in the LORD, H3068 and rejoice, H1523 ye righteous: H6662 and shout H7442 for joy, all ye that are upright H3477 in heart. H3820
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 32
Commentary on Psalms 32 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 32
Ps 32:1-11. Maschil—literally, "giving instruction." The Psalmist describes the blessings of His forgiveness, succeeding the pains of conviction, and deduces from his own experience instruction and exhortation to others.
1, 2. (Compare Ro 4:6).
forgiven—literally, "taken away," opposed to retain (Joh 20:23).
covered—so that God no longer regards the sin (Ps 85:3).
2. imputeth—charge to him, and treat him accordingly.
no guile—or, deceit, no false estimate of himself, nor insincerity before God (compare Ro 8:1).
3, 4. A vivid description of felt, but unacknowledged, sin.
When—literally, "for," as in Ps 32:4.
4. thy hand—of God, or power in distressing him (Ps 38:2).
moisture—vital juices of the body, the parching heat of which expresses the anguish of the soul. On the other figures, compare Ps 6:2, 7; 31:9-11. If composed on the occasion of the fifty-first Psalm, this distress may have been protracted for several months.
5. A prompt fulfilment of the purposed confession is followed by a prompt forgiveness.
6. For this—that is, my happy experience.
godly—pious in the sense of Ps 4:3.
a time—(Isa 55:6); when God's Spirit inclines us to seek pardon, He is ready to forgive.
floods, &c.—denotes great danger (Ps 18:17; 66:12).
7. His experience illustrates the statement of Ps 32:6.
8. Whether, as most likely, the language of David (compare Ps 51:13), or that of God, this is a promise of divine guidance.
I will … mine eye—or, My eye shall be on thee, watching and directing thy way.
9. The latter clause, more literally, "in that they come not near thee"; that is, because they will not come, &c., unless forced by bit and bridle.
10. The sorrows of the impenitent contrasted with the peace and safety secured by God's mercy.
11. The righteous and upright, or those conforming to the divine teaching for securing the divine blessing, may well rejoice with shouting.