The Providence of God
1{A Psalm of David, Maschil.} Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
2Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
3When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.
4For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.
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.
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.
7Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.
8I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.
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.
10Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about.
11Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.
King James Bible
Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.
The Joy of Forgiveness
(Romans 4:1–12)
1 By David. A contemplative psalm. Blessed is he whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
2 Blessed is the man to whom Yahweh doesn’t impute iniquity, in whose spirit there is no deceit.
3 When I kept silence, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night your hand was heavy on me. My strength was sapped in the heat of summer. Selah.
5 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.
6 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.
7 You are my hiding place. You will preserve me from trouble. You will surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah.
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you shall go. I will counsel you with my eye on you.
9 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.
10 Many sorrows come to the wicked, but loving kindness shall surround him who trusts in Yahweh.
11 Be glad in Yahweh, and rejoice, you righteous! Shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart!
The Joy of Forgiveness
(Romans 4:1–12)
Of David. A Maskil. a
1Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered. b
2 Blessed is the man
whose iniquity the LORD does not count against him, c
in whose spirit there is no deceit.
3 When I kept silent, my bones became brittle
from my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night
Your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was drained d
as in the summer heat.
Selah
5 Then I acknowledged my sin to You
and did not hide my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,”
and You forgave the guilt of my sin.
Selah
6 Therefore let all the godly pray to You
while You may be found.
Surely when great waters rise,
they will not come near.
7 You are my hiding place.
You protect me from trouble;
You surround me with songs of deliverance.
Selah
8 I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go;
I will give you counsel and watch over you.
9 Do not be like the horse or mule,
which have no understanding;
they must be controlled with bit and bridle
to make them come to you.
10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked,
but loving devotion surrounds him who trusts in the LORD.
11 Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, O righteous ones;
shout for joy, all you upright in heart.
Footnotes:
1 a Maskil is probably a musical or liturgical term; used for Psalms 32, 42, 44–45, 52–55, 74, 78, 88–89, and 142.
1 b LXX Blessed is he whose lawless acts are forgiven, whose sins are covered ; cited in Romans 4:7
2 c LXX Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him ; cited in Romans 4:8
4 d Or my vitality was turned
The Providence of God
1By David. -- An Instruction. O the happiness of him whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered.
2O the happiness of a man, To whom Jehovah imputeth not iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit.
3When I have kept silence, become old have my bones, Through my roaring all the day.
4When by day and by night Thy hand is heavy upon me, My moisture hath been changed Into the droughts of summer. Selah.
5My sin I cause Thee to know, And mine iniquity I have not covered. I have said, 'I confess concerning My transgressions to Jehovah,' And Thou -- Thou hast taken away, The iniquity of my sin. Selah.
6For this doth every saintly one pray to Thee, As the time to find. Surely at an overflowing of many waters, Unto him they come not.
7Thou art a hiding-place for me, From distress Thou dost keep me, With songs of deliverance dost compass me. Selah.
8I cause thee to act wisely, And direct thee in the way that thou goest, I cause mine eye to take counsel concerning thee.
9Be ye not as a horse -- as a mule, Without understanding, With bridle and bit, its ornaments, to curb, Not to come near unto thee.
10Many are the pains of the wicked; As to him who is trusting in Jehovah, Kindness doth compass him.
11Be glad in Jehovah, and rejoice, ye righteous, And sing, all ye upright of heart!
