Psalms
Chapter 32
David describes the relief of being forgiven. He tells what it was like to stay silent about his sin: his body wore down and he felt God's hand pressing on him day and night. When he finally admitted what he had done, God forgave him. He ends by urging others to pray while God can be found, to learn rather than be forced like a stubborn animal, and to be glad.
Plain reading written for preteens. Clear and complete, at about a fifth grade reading level.
Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
1Happy is the person whose wrongdoing is forgiven, whose sin is covered over and out of sight.
2Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
2Happy is the person the LORD does not hold guilty, the person with no lie hidden inside.
3When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.
3When I stayed quiet about my sin, my body wore out. I groaned in pain all day long.
4For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.
4Day and night your hand pressed down on me. My strength dried up like a field in the summer heat. Selah.
"Selah" is a Hebrew word left untranslated. It appears in the Psalms and may have marked a pause or a musical direction. Its exact meaning is unknown.
5I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.
5Then I admitted my sin to you. I stopped hiding what I had done wrong. I said, "I will confess my sins to the LORD." And you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah.
6For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.
6So let everyone who loves God pray to you while you can still be found. Then when deep floodwaters rise, the water will not reach them.
7Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.
7You are my hiding place. You keep me safe from trouble. You surround me with songs of rescue. Selah.
8I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.
8God says: I will teach you and show you the way you should go. I will give you advice and keep my eye on you.
The KJV's "I will guide thee with mine eye" does not mean God signals with a glance. It means he watches over you and gives you counsel.
9Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.
9Do not be like a horse or a mule, which does not understand. They need a bit and bridle to make them come to you.
10Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about.
10The wicked will have many sorrows. But the LORD's faithful love surrounds the person who trusts him.
11Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.
11Be glad in the LORD and celebrate, you who do what is right. Shout for joy, all of you with honest hearts.
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