Corpus Psalterium · Vol. II
Psalm XXXII (32)
Didactic — Confession Instruction
Paul Whitehorn
Study the Word
Psalm 32 in Hebrew and English, and the words as they are sung.
By David. A contemplative psalm.
Blessed is he whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
לְדָוִ֗ד מַ֫שְׂכִּ֥יל אַשְׁרֵ֥י נְֽשׂוּי־פֶּ֗שַׁע כְּס֣וּי חֲטָאָֽה׃
Blessed is the man to whom Yahweh doesn’t impute iniquity, in whose spirit there is no deceit.
אַ֥שְֽׁרֵי אָדָ֗ם לֹ֤א יַחְשֹׁ֬ב יְהוָ֣ה ל֣וֹ עָוֺ֑ן וְאֵ֖ין בְּרוּח֣וֹ רְמִיָּה׃
When I kept silence, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.
כִּֽי־הֶ֭חֱרַשְׁתִּי בָּל֣וּ עֲצָמָ֑י בְּ֝שַׁאֲגָתִ֗י כָּל־הַיּֽוֹם׃
For day and night your hand was heavy on me. My strength was sapped in the heat of summer. Selah.
כִּ֤י ׀ יוֹמָ֣ם וָלַיְלָה֮ תִּכְבַּ֥ד עָלַ֗י יָ֫דֶ֥ךָ נֶהְפַּ֥ךְ לְשַׁדִּ֑י בְּחַרְבֹ֖נֵי קַ֣יִץ סֶֽלָה׃
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. Selah.
חַטָּאתִ֨י אוֹדִ֪יעֲךָ֡ וַעֲוֺ֘נִ֤י לֹֽא־כִסִּ֗יתִי אָמַ֗רְתִּי אוֹדֶ֤ה עֲלֵ֣י פְ֭שָׁעַי לַיהוָ֑ה וְאַתָּ֨ה נָ֘שָׂ֤אתָ עֲוֺ֖ן חַטָּאתִ֣י סֶֽלָה׃
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.
עַל־זֹ֡את יִתְפַּלֵּ֬ל כָּל־חָסִ֨יד ׀ אֵלֶיךָ֮ לְעֵ֪ת מְ֫צֹ֥א רַ֗ק לְ֭שֵׁטֶף מַ֣יִם רַבִּ֑ים אֵ֝לָ֗יו לֹ֣א יַגִּֽיעוּ׃
You are my hiding place. You will preserve me from trouble. You will surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah.
אַתָּ֤ה ׀ סֵ֥תֶר לִי֮ מִצַּ֪ר תִּ֫צְּרֵ֥נִי רָנֵּ֥י פַלֵּ֑ט תְּס֖וֹבְבֵ֣נִי סֶֽלָה׃
I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you shall go. I will counsel you with my eye on you.
אַשְׂכִּֽילְךָ֨ ׀ וְֽאוֹרְךָ֗ בְּדֶֽרֶךְ־ז֥וּ תֵלֵ֑ךְ אִֽיעֲצָ֖ה עָלֶ֣יךָ עֵינִֽי׃
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.
אַל־תִּֽהְי֤וּ ׀ כְּס֥וּס כְּפֶרֶד֮ אֵ֤ין הָ֫בִ֥ין בְּמֶֽתֶג־וָרֶ֣סֶן עֶדְי֣וֹ לִבְל֑וֹם בַּ֝֗ל קְרֹ֣ב אֵלֶֽיךָ׃
Many sorrows come to the wicked, but loving kindness shall surround him who trusts in Yahweh.
רַבִּ֥ים מַכְאוֹבִ֗ים לָרָ֫שָׁ֥ע וְהַבּוֹטֵ֥חַ בַּיהוָ֑ה חֶ֝֗סֶד יְסוֹבְבֶֽנּוּ׃
Be glad in Yahweh, and rejoice, you righteous! Shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart!
שִׂמְח֬וּ בַֽיהוָ֣ה וְ֭גִילוּ צַדִּיקִ֑ים וְ֝הַרְנִ֗ינוּ כָּל־יִשְׁרֵי־לֵֽב׃
Hebrew: Westminster Leningrad Codex (public domain), from the Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible. English: World English Bible (public domain). Verse numbers follow the English Bible; the Hebrew numbering is shown beneath where it differs.
Blessed is the one
whose transgression is lifted
Blessed is the man
whose sin is covered
Blessed
the one
in whom
there is no deceit
When I kept silent
my bones wasted away
through my groaning
all day long
Day and night
Your hand was heavy
My strength
dried up
like summer heat
Then I acknowledged
my sin to You
I did not hide
my guilt
I said
I will confess
And You forgave
You forgave
the guilt
of my sin
You forgave
You forgave
Therefore let all
who are faithful
pray to You
while You may be found
Surely the flood
of many waters
will not
reach them
You are my hiding place
You preserve me
from trouble
You surround me
with songs
of deliverance
I will instruct you
I will teach you
the way
you should go
I will counsel you
with My eye
upon you
Do not be like
the horse
or the mule
without understanding
Many are the sorrows
of the wicked
But steadfast love
surrounds
the one
who trusts
in the LORD
Rejoice in the LORD
Rejoice in the LORD
Be glad
you righteous
Rejoice
Rejoice
Sing for joy
all you upright
in heart
Lyrics by Paul Whitehorn: a singable English rendering of the Hebrew, as sung on this recording.
Corpus Psalterium sets each psalm to music by its Hebrew grammar. Didactic psalms teach; Cantillated psalms are spoken, sung or performed before God. Hear all 150 psalms free.