Psalm 32

This is a special song that David wrote.

People are happy when God forgives their sins

1 When God has forgiven a person's sins,

they are truly happy!

They may have turned against God,

but when God forgives them, they are happy.

2 They may have done something bad,

but when the Lord says, ‘Not guilty!’,

he has truly blessed them.

They are happy because they no longer try to hide their sins.

3 When I said nothing to God about my sins,

my whole body became weak.

I cried all the time because of the pain.

4 In the day and in the night,

you punished me very much.

It seemed as if the hot sun was taking away my strength.

5 Then I told you about my sins.

I did not try to hide the bad things that I had done.

I said, ‘I will tell the Lord

about the things that I have done against him.’

When I did that, you forgave my sins.

6 Because of this, all your own people should pray to you.

They should pray while they still have the chance.

Then, when danger comes to them like a river of deep water,

they will still be safe.

7 Yes, Lord, you are a place where I can hide.

You will keep me safe from trouble.

I will hear happy songs around me,

because you save your people from danger.

8 The Lord says,

‘I will teach you the right way to live.

I will be your guide

and I will take care of you.

9 Do not be like a silly horse, or a mule.

You have to use a rope to show them which way to go.

Without that, they will not obey you.’

10  Wicked people will receive a lot of trouble and pain.

But if anyone trusts in the Lord,

they will know that God always loves them.

11 So all you people who belong to the Lord,

praise him and be happy!

All of you who are good, honest people,

shout aloud because you are so happy!