The Joy of Forgiveness
(Romans 4:1–12)

לְדָוִ֗ד (Of David), מַ֫שְׂכִּ֥יל (a Maskil).

1אַשְׁרֵ֥י (Blessed is he) נְֽשׂוּי־ (lifted) פֶּ֗שַׁע (with transgression),

כְּס֣וּי (is covered) חֲטָאָֽה׃ (with sin).

2  אַ֥שְֽׁרֵי (Blessed is) אָדָ֗ם (the man)

לֹ֤א (who not) יַחְשֹׁ֬ב (does consider) יְהוָ֣ה (YHWH) ל֣וֹ (for him) עָוֺ֑ן (iniquity),

וְאֵ֖ין (and not) בְּרוּח֣וֹ (in his spirit) רְמִיָּה׃ (is deceit).

3  כִּֽי־ (When) הֶ֭חֱרַשְׁתִּי (I remained silent), בָּל֣וּ (were worn out) עֲצָמָ֑י (my bones)

בְּ֝שַׁאֲגָתִ֗י (by my groaning) כָּל־ (all) הַיּֽוֹם׃ (the day).

4  כִּ֤י׀ (For) יוֹמָ֣ם (day) וָלַיְלָה֮ (and night)

תִּכְבַּ֥ד (was heavy) עָלַ֗י (upon me) יָ֫דֶ֥ךָ (Your hand);

נֶהְפַּ֥ךְ (was overturned) לְשַׁדִּ֑י (my juice)

בְּחַרְבֹ֖נֵי (as in the drought) קַ֣יִץ (of summer).

סֶֽלָה׃ (Selah)

5  חַטָּאתִ֨י (My sin) אוֹדִ֪יעֲךָ֡ (I made known to You)

וַעֲוֺ֘נִ֤י (and my iniquity) לֹֽא־ (not) כִסִּ֗יתִי (have I hidden).

אָמַ֗רְתִּי (I said), אוֹדֶ֤ה (I will make confession) עֲלֵ֣י (over) פְ֭שָׁעַי (my transgressions) לַיהוָ֑ה (to YHWH),

וְאַתָּ֨ה (and You) נָ֘שָׂ֤אתָ (forgave) עֲוֺ֖ן (the guilt) חַטָּאתִ֣י (of my sin).

סֶֽלָה׃ (Selah)

6  עַל־ (for) זֹ֡את (thus) יִתְפַּלֵּ֬ל (shall pray) כָּל־ (every) חָסִ֨יד׀ (godly one) אֵלֶיךָ֮ (to You)

לְעֵ֪ת (in a time) מְ֫צֹ֥א (to find);

רַ֗ק (even) לְ֭שֵׁטֶף (at a flood) מַ֣יִם (of waters) רַבִּ֑ים (great) אֵ֝לָ֗יו (toward him)

לֹ֣א (not) יַגִּֽיעוּ׃ (shall they touch him).

7  אַתָּ֤ה׀ (You are) סֵ֥תֶר (a hiding place) לִי֮ (unto me);

מִצַּ֪ר (from distress) תִּ֫צְּרֵ֥נִי (you keep me);

רָנֵּ֥י (with shouts) פַלֵּ֑ט (of deliverance) תְּס֖וֹבְבֵ֣נִי (You will surround me).

סֶֽלָה׃ (Selah)

8  אַשְׂכִּֽילְךָ֨׀ (I will instruct you) וְֽאוֹרְךָ֗ (and direct you) בְּדֶֽרֶךְ־ (in the way) ז֥וּ (that) תֵלֵ֑ךְ (you should go);

אִֽיעֲצָ֖ה (I will counsel counsel) עָלֶ֣יךָ (concerning you) עֵינִֽי׃ (with My eye).

9  אַל־ (Not) תִּֽהְי֤וּ׀ (should you⁺ be) כְּס֥וּס (like a horse)—

כְּפֶרֶד֮ (like a mule)— אֵ֤ין (without) הָ֫בִ֥ין (understanding),

בְּמֶֽתֶג־ (with bit) וָרֶ֣סֶן (and bridle) עֶדְי֣וֹ (its ornaments) לִבְל֑וֹם (to curb),

בַּ֝֗ל (that there is no) קְרֹ֣ב (coming near) אֵלֶֽיךָ׃ (to you).

10  רַבִּ֥ים (Many) מַכְאוֹבִ֗ים (are the pains) לָרָ֫שָׁ֥ע (of the wicked),

וְהַבּוֹטֵ֥חַ (and the one trusting) בַּיהוָ֑ה (in YHWH), חֶ֝֗סֶד (loving devotion) יְסוֹבְבֶֽנּוּ׃ (shall surround him).

11  שִׂמְח֬וּ (Be glad) בַֽיהוָ֣ה (in YHWH), וְ֭גִילוּ (and rejoice), צַדִּיקִ֑ים (O righteous ones),

וְ֝הַרְנִ֗ינוּ (and shout for joy), כָּל־ (all) יִשְׁרֵי־ (upright) לֵֽב׃ (of heart).