Psalm 32

1. Blest is the man whose trespass is forgiven,  / Whose sins are covered in the sight of heaven.  / Blest is the man against whom, LORD, Thou wilt  / Not count all his iniquity and guilt.  / How happy he, contrite of heart and lowly,  / Who has confessed his sins, O LORD most holy;  / Who does not secretly Thy laws transgress,  / Whose spirit harbors no deceitfulness.

2. When I kept silent, sinful ways condoning,  / I pined away through my incessant groaning.  / Thy hand weighed down on me in my deceit;  / My strength was sapped as by the summer’s heat.  / To Thee, O God of justice and compassion,  / I then at last acknowledged my transgression.  / I said, “I will confess my sins to Thee,”  / And all my guilt Thou hast forgiven me.

3. Let all the godly when they grieve and suffer  / To Thee, O LORD, their supplications offer.  / Surely when floods of mighty waters rise,  / They shall not reach him who on Thee relies.  / Thou art a hiding-place for those who serve Thee;  / Thou, mighty God, from trouble dost preserve  / me.  / Songs of deliv’rance everywhere resound:  / Thou me with great rejoicing dost surround. / William Helder, 1980