Psalm 32

What Psalm 32 means

Psalm 32 opens with two blessings. "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered." Blessed also is the man to whom the LORD does not count iniquity and in whose spirit there is no guile. The psalm uses three words for wrongdoing, transgression, sin and iniquity, and answers each with a word for God's forgiveness.

Verses 3-4 describe what hiding sin felt like. While David kept silence, his bones wasted away and he groaned all day long. Day and night God's hand was heavy on him, and his strength dried up like ground in the summer heat.

Verse 5 is the turning point. "I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid." David decided to confess his transgressions to the LORD, and the LORD forgave the iniquity of his sin. Because of this, every godly person should pray while God may be found, and the floods of great waters will not reach him. David calls God his hiding place, who surrounds him with songs of deliverance.

In verses 8-9 God himself seems to speak: I will instruct thee and teach thee the way to go, and guide thee with mine eye. He warns against being like a horse or mule that has to be steered with bit and bridle. In other words, a forgiven person should follow willingly rather than having to be dragged.

The psalm ends by contrasting two outcomes. Many sorrows come to the wicked, but mercy surrounds the one who trusts in the LORD. So the righteous are called to be glad and shout for joy. Paul quotes the opening verses in Romans 4 to show that God counts people righteous apart from their works.

Background and context

The heading calls Psalm 32 a psalm of David and a Maschil, a Hebrew term usually taken to mean a psalm of instruction or understanding. The psalm does not say what sin David confessed. Many readers connect it with his sin with Bathsheba and Nathan's rebuke in 2 Samuel 12, though the psalm itself does not say so.

Christian tradition counts Psalm 32 among the seven penitential psalms, along with Psalms 6, 38, 51, 102, 130 and 143. Psalm 32 has the word Selah three times, in verses 4, 5 and 7.

Key verses

Cross references

• Romans 4:6-8 Paul quotes verses 1-2 as David describing the blessedness of the forgiven.Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
• 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive, the same pattern as verse 5.If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
• Proverbs 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper, but whoso confesseth shall have mercy.He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
• 2 Samuel 12:13 David's confession to Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD, and the LORD's forgiveness.And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.
• Psalm 51 David's other great psalm of confession, often read alongside Psalm 32.Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem. Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.