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 to whom the Lord does not impute 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 silent, my bones grew old 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 vitality 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 have not hidden. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” And You forgave 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 cause everyone who is godly shall pray to You In a time when You may be found; Surely in a flood of great waters They shall not come near him.

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

You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me 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 you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.

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.

Do not be like the horse or like the mule, Which have no understanding, Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, Else they will not come near you.

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

Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; But he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him.

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; And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!