Psalms 32 (ASV)

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Chapter Text

32:1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered.

32:2 Blessed is the man unto whom Jehovah imputeth not iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no guile.

32:3 When I kept silence, my bones wasted away Through my groaning all the day long.

32:4 For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: My moisture was changed [as] with the drought of summer. Selah

32:5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee, And mine iniquity did I not hide: I said, I will confess my transgressions unto Jehovah; And thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah

32:6 For this let every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: Surely when the great waters overflow they shall not reach unto him.

32:7 Thou art my hiding-place; thou wilt preserve me from trouble; Thou wilt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah

32:8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will counsel thee with mine eye upon thee.

32:9 Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding; Whose trappings must be bit and bridle to hold them in, [Else] they will not come near unto thee.

32:10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; But he that trusteth in Jehovah, lovingkindness shall compass him about.

32:11 Be glad in Jehovah, and rejoice, ye righteous; And shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart. Psalm 33

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "Spirit", "transgressions", "blessed", "whose", "forgiven", "covered", and "jehovah". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "Spirit" and "transgressions", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The local ASV text gives this verse as the immediate unit, so "Spirit" and "transgressions" carries the first interpretive weight. In Psalms context, the local focus is worship, trust, the LORD's kingship, and covenant mercy.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "Spirit" and "transgressions" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.