Psalm 32

Words: Thomas Sternhold, as in  The Scottish Psalter of 1635
Note: This version of Psalm 32 was also used in the Sternhold and Hopkins Psalter of 1562.

  1  The man is blest, whose wickedness
        the Lord forgiven hath;
     And he whose sin is likewise hid
        and covered from his wrath.

  2  And blest is he to whom the Lord
        imputeth not his sin,
     Who in his heart hath hid no guile,
        nor fraud is found therein.

  3  For whilst that I kept close my sin
        in silence and constraint,
     My bones did wear and waste away
        with daily moan and plaint.

  4  Both night and day thy hand on me
        so grievous was and smart,
     My moisture like the summer's heat
        to dryness did convert.

  5  I did therefore confess my faults,
        and all my sins reveal
     Then thou, O Lord, didst me forgive,
        and all my sins conceal.

  6  The humble man shall pray therefore,
        and seek thee in due time,
     so that the floods of waters great
        shall have no pow'r on him.

  7  When trouble and adversity
        do compass me about,
     Thou art my refuge and my joy,
        and thou didst rid me out.

  8  Come hither, and I will thee teach
        how thou shalt walk aright;
     I will thee guide, as I myself
        have learned by proof and sight.

  9  Be not so rude and ignorant,
        as is the horse and mule,
     Whose mouth without a rein or bit,
        from harm thou canst not rule.

 10  The wicked man shall manifold
        sorrows and grief sustain;
     But unto him that trusts in God
        his goodness shall remain.

 11  Be merry therefore in the Lord,
        ye just, lift up your voice;
     And ye of pure and perfect heart,
        with cheerfulness rejoice. 

Although the tune for this is a CMD tune, there are an odd number of verses, so there is one extra verse at the end of the Psalm. We have added a repeat of the first verse at the end so that the tune will come out even if you're singing along, but we do not generally think it is a good idea to add repeats when singing carefully translated metrical Psalms.  (It seems a bit to us like adding to the Word of God)

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