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.
Trust unto Jehovah with all thy heart, And unto thine own understanding lean not. In all thy ways know thou Him, And He doth make straight thy paths.
Receive my instruction, and not silver, And knowledge rather than choice gold. For better `is' wisdom than rubies, Yea, all delights are not comparable with it.
Good and upright `is' Jehovah, Therefore He directeth sinners in the way. He causeth the humble to tread in judgment, And teacheth the humble His way. All the paths of Jehovah `are' kindness and truth, To those keeping His covenant, And His testimonies.
Hear, ye sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding. For good learning I have given to you, My law forsake not. For, a son I have been to my father -- tender, And an only one before my mother. And he directeth me, and he saith to me: `Let thy heart retain my words, Keep my commands, and live. Get wisdom, get understanding, Do not forget, nor turn away From the sayings of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she doth preserve thee, Love her, and she doth keep thee. The first thing `is' wisdom -- get wisdom, And with all thy getting get understanding. Exalt her, and she doth lift thee up, She honoureth thee, when thou dost embrace her. She giveth to thy head a wreath of grace, A crown of beauty she doth give thee freely. Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, And years of life `are' multiplied to thee. In a way of wisdom I have directed thee, I have caused thee to tread in paths of uprightness. In thy walking thy step is not straitened, And if thou runnest, thou stumblest not. Lay hold on instruction, do not desist, Keep her, for she `is' thy life.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 32
Commentary on Psalms 32 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 32
Ps 32:1-11. Maschil—literally, "giving instruction." The Psalmist describes the blessings of His forgiveness, succeeding the pains of conviction, and deduces from his own experience instruction and exhortation to others.
1, 2. (Compare Ro 4:6).
forgiven—literally, "taken away," opposed to retain (Joh 20:23).
covered—so that God no longer regards the sin (Ps 85:3).
2. imputeth—charge to him, and treat him accordingly.
no guile—or, deceit, no false estimate of himself, nor insincerity before God (compare Ro 8:1).
3, 4. A vivid description of felt, but unacknowledged, sin.
When—literally, "for," as in Ps 32:4.
4. thy hand—of God, or power in distressing him (Ps 38:2).
moisture—vital juices of the body, the parching heat of which expresses the anguish of the soul. On the other figures, compare Ps 6:2, 7; 31:9-11. If composed on the occasion of the fifty-first Psalm, this distress may have been protracted for several months.
5. A prompt fulfilment of the purposed confession is followed by a prompt forgiveness.
6. For this—that is, my happy experience.
godly—pious in the sense of Ps 4:3.
a time—(Isa 55:6); when God's Spirit inclines us to seek pardon, He is ready to forgive.
floods, &c.—denotes great danger (Ps 18:17; 66:12).
7. His experience illustrates the statement of Ps 32:6.
8. Whether, as most likely, the language of David (compare Ps 51:13), or that of God, this is a promise of divine guidance.
I will … mine eye—or, My eye shall be on thee, watching and directing thy way.
9. The latter clause, more literally, "in that they come not near thee"; that is, because they will not come, &c., unless forced by bit and bridle.
10. The sorrows of the impenitent contrasted with the peace and safety secured by God's mercy.
11. The righteous and upright, or those conforming to the divine teaching for securing the divine blessing, may well rejoice with shouting.