1 B y David. -- An Instruction. O the happiness of him whose transgression forgiven, Whose sin is covered.

Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is he who has forgiveness of his transgression continually exercised upon him, whose sin is covered.

2 O the happiness of a man, To whom Jehovah imputeth not iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit.

Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man to whom the Lord imputes no iniquity and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

3 W hen I have kept silence, become old have my bones, Through my roaring all the day.

When I kept silence, my bones wasted away through my groaning all the day long.

4 W hen by day and by night Thy hand is heavy upon me, My moisture hath been changed Into the droughts of summer. Selah.

For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my moisture was turned into the drought of summer. Selah!

5 M y 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.

I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I did not hide. I said, I will confess my transgressions to the Lord —then You forgave me the guilt and iniquity of my sin. Selah!

6 F or 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.

For this let everyone who is godly pray—pray to You in a time when You may be found; surely when the great waters overflow, they shall not reach him.

7 T hou a hiding-place for me, From distress Thou dost keep me, songs of deliverance dost compass me. Selah.

You are a hiding place for me; You, Lord, preserve me from trouble, You surround me with songs and shouts of deliverance. Selah!

8 I cause thee to act wisely, And direct thee in the way that thou goest, I cause mine eye to take counsel concerning thee.

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.

9 B e ye not as a horse -- as a mule, Without understanding, With bridle and bit, its ornaments, to curb, Not to come near unto thee.

Be not like the horse or the mule, which lack understanding, which must have their mouths held firm with bit and bridle, or else they will not come with you.

10 M any the pains of the wicked; As to him who is trusting in Jehovah, Kindness doth compass him.

Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but he who trusts in, relies on, and confidently leans on the Lord shall be compassed about with mercy and with loving-kindness.

11 B e glad in Jehovah, and rejoice, ye righteous, And sing, all ye upright of heart!

Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous; shout for joy, all you upright in heart!