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

¶ Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, 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 is the man unto whom the LORD does not impute iniquity and in whose spirit there is no guile.

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

When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring 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 thy hand was heavy upon me: my green growth is 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 unto thee, and I have not hid my iniquity. I said, I will confess (against myself) my rebellions unto the LORD, and thou shalt forgive the 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 shall every one that is merciful pray unto thee in the time when thou may be found; surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come near unto him.

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

¶ Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs 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 thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go; I will fix mine eyes upon thee.

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 ye not as the horse or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in subjection with bit and bridle, or they will not come near unto thee.

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

There are many sorrows for the wicked; but he that waits in the LORD, mercy shall compass him round about.

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

Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, ye righteous, and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.