Psalm 32:5
New International Version
Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin.

New Living Translation
Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the LORD.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. Interlude

English Standard Version
I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah

Berean Standard Bible
Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not hide my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah

King James Bible
I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

New King James Version
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

New American Standard Bible
I acknowledged my sin to You, And I did not hide my guilt; I said, “I will confess my wrongdoings to the LORD”; And You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah

NASB 1995
I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I did not hide; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD"; And You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah.

NASB 1977
I acknowledged my sin to Thee, And my iniquity I did not hide; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD”; And Thou didst forgive the guilt of my sin. Selah.

Legacy Standard Bible
I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I did not cover up; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to Yahweh;” And You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

Amplified Bible
I acknowledged my sin to You, And I did not hide my wickedness; I said, “I will confess [all] my transgressions to the LORD”; And You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah.

Christian Standard Bible
Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not conceal my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not conceal my iniquity. I said,” I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and You took away the guilt of my sin. Selah

American Standard Version
I acknowledged my sin unto thee, And mine iniquity did I not hide: I said, I will confess my transgressions unto Jehovah; And thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. [Selah

Contemporary English Version
So I confessed my sins and told them all to you. I said, "I'll tell the LORD each one of my sins." Then you forgave me and took away my guilt.

English Revised Version
I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid: I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I made my sins known to you, and I did not cover up my guilt. I decided to confess them to you, O LORD. Then you forgave all my sins. [Selah]

Good News Translation
Then I confessed my sins to you; I did not conceal my wrongdoings. I decided to confess them to you, and you forgave all my sins.

International Standard Version
My sin I acknowledged to you; my iniquity I did not hide. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD." And you forgave the guilt of my sin! Interlude

Majority Standard Bible
Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not hide my iniquity. I said, ?I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,? and You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah

NET Bible
Then I confessed my sin; I no longer covered up my wrongdoing. I said, "I will confess my rebellious acts to the LORD." And then you forgave my sins. (Selah)

New Heart English Bible
I acknowledged my sin to you. I did not hide my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD," and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

Webster's Bible Translation
I acknowledged my sin to thee, and my iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions to the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

World English Bible
I acknowledged my sin to you. I didn’t hide my iniquity. I said, I will confess my transgressions to Yahweh, and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
I cause You to know my sin, "" And I have not covered my iniquity. I have said, “I confess to YHWH concerning My transgressions,” "" And You have taken away the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

Young's Literal Translation
My 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.

Smith's Literal Translation
I will make known to thee my sin, and mine iniquity I hid not I said, I will confess upon my transgression to Jehovah; and thou didst take away the iniquity of my sin. Silence.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
I have acknowledged my sin to thee, and my injustice I have not concealed. I said I will confess against myself my injustice to the Lord: and thou hast forgiven the wickedness of my sin.

Catholic Public Domain Version
I have acknowledged my offense to you, and I have not concealed my injustice. I said, “I will confess against myself, my injustice to the Lord,” and you forgave the impiety of my sin.

New American Bible
Then I declared my sin to you; my guilt I did not hide. I said, “I confess my transgression to the LORD,” and you took away the guilt of my sin. Selah

New Revised Standard Version
Then I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not hide my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
I have acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid from thee. I said, I will confess my faults to the LORD; and thou forgavest all of my sins.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
I confessed my sins to you and my crimes I have not hidden from you; I have said, "I shall confess to LORD JEHOVAH concerning my crimes”, and you forgave me all my sins.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
I acknowledged my sin unto Thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid; I said: 'I will make confession concerning my transgressions unto the LORD'-- And Thou, Thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah

Brenton Septuagint Translation
I acknowledged my sin, and hid not mine iniquity: I said, I will confess mine iniquity to the Lord against myself; and thou forgavest the ungodliness of my heart. Pause.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Providence of God
4For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was drained as in the summer heat. Selah 5Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not hide my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah 6Therefore let all the godly pray to You while You may be found. Surely when great waters rise, they will not come near.…

Cross References
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Proverbs 28:13
He who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy.

James 5:16
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail.

Luke 15:21
The son declared, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

Isaiah 55:7
Let the wicked man forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon.

2 Samuel 12:13
Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” “The LORD has taken away your sin,” Nathan replied. “You will not die.

Jeremiah 3:13
Only acknowledge your guilt, that you have rebelled against the LORD your God. You have scattered your favors to foreign gods under every green tree and have not obeyed My voice,’” declares the LORD.

Acts 3:19
Repent, then, and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped away,

Romans 10:10
For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved.

Matthew 3:6
Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

Leviticus 5:5
If someone incurs guilt in one of these ways, he must confess the sin he has committed,

Nehemiah 9:2
Those of Israelite descent separated themselves from all the foreigners, and they stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers.

Job 33:27-28
Then he sings before men with these words: ‘I have sinned and perverted what was right; yet I did not get what I deserved. / He redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit, and I will live to see the light.’

Hosea 14:2
Bring your confessions and return to the LORD. Say to Him: “Take away all our iniquity and receive us graciously, that we may present the fruit of our lips.

Mark 1:5
People went out to him from all of Jerusalem and the countryside of Judea. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.


Treasury of Scripture

I acknowledge my sin to you, and my iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions to the LORD; and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

acknowledged

Psalm 38:18
For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.

Psalm 51:3-5
For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me…

Leviticus 26:39,40
And they that are left of you shall pine away in their iniquity in your enemies' lands; and also in the iniquities of their fathers shall they pine away with them…

have

Job 31:33
If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom:

Proverbs 30:20
Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.

Jeremiah 2:23,35
How canst thou say, I am not polluted, I have not gone after Baalim? see thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done: thou art a swift dromedary traversing her ways; …

I said

Isaiah 65:24
And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.

Hosea 6:1
Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.

Luke 15:17-19,21
And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! …

forgavest

Psalm 30:5
For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

Psalm 86:5,15
For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee…

Psalm 103:3
Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

iniquity

Psalm 51:4
Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

2 Samuel 12:9,13
Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon…

Malachi 3:8
Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

Jump to Previous
Acknowledge Acknowledged Cause Clear Confess Confession Cover Covered Forgave Forgavest Forgive Guilt Hid Hide Iniquity Selah Sin Thou Transgressions Wrongdoing
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Acknowledge Acknowledged Cause Clear Confess Confession Cover Covered Forgave Forgavest Forgive Guilt Hid Hide Iniquity Selah Sin Thou Transgressions Wrongdoing
Psalm 32
1. Blessedness consists in remission of sins
3. Confession of sins gives ease to the conscience
8. God's promises bring joy














Then I acknowledged my sin to You
Acknowledging sin is a crucial step in the process of repentance and restoration with God. In the biblical context, acknowledgment implies a full recognition and admission of wrongdoing. This act is seen throughout Scripture, such as in the story of David and Nathan (2 Samuel 12:13), where David admits his sin after being confronted. Acknowledgment is the first step towards reconciliation with God, as it opens the door for His grace and forgiveness.

and did not hide my iniquity.
Hiding iniquity is a common human response to sin, as seen in the story of Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:8-10). However, the psalmist chooses transparency before God, understanding that nothing is hidden from Him (Hebrews 4:13). This openness is essential for true repentance, as it reflects a heart willing to be cleansed and transformed.

I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,”
Confession is a verbal acknowledgment of sin, and it is a practice deeply rooted in the Jewish tradition, as seen in Leviticus 5:5. Confession to the LORD signifies a direct appeal to God, bypassing any human intermediary, which highlights the personal relationship between the believer and God. This act of confession is echoed in the New Testament, where believers are encouraged to confess their sins (1 John 1:9).

and You forgave the guilt of my sin.
Forgiveness is a central theme in the Bible, and it is God's response to genuine repentance. The removal of guilt is a profound aspect of divine forgiveness, as seen in Isaiah 1:18, where God promises to make sins as white as snow. This forgiveness is a type of the ultimate forgiveness offered through Jesus Christ, whose sacrifice on the cross provides atonement for sin (Ephesians 1:7).

Selah
The term "Selah" is often used in the Psalms and is thought to indicate a pause for reflection or musical interlude. It invites the reader or listener to meditate on the profound truths just expressed. In this context, it serves as a moment to contemplate the significance of confession and forgiveness, encouraging a deeper understanding of God's mercy and grace.

Persons / Places / Events
1. David
Traditionally attributed as the author of Psalm 32, David is expressing his personal experience of confession and forgiveness.

2. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant name of God, to whom David confesses his sins and from whom he receives forgiveness.

3. Sin/Iniquity/Transgressions
These terms describe the moral failures and disobedience against God's law that David acknowledges.
Teaching Points
The Power of Confession
Confession is a powerful act that brings spiritual freedom and healing. By acknowledging our sins, we open the door to God's forgiveness.

God's Readiness to Forgive
God is always ready to forgive when we come to Him with a repentant heart. His grace is abundant and available to all who seek it.

Transparency with God
Hiding sin only prolongs guilt and separation from God. Transparency in our relationship with Him leads to restoration and peace.

The Role of 'Selah'
The term "Selah" invites us to pause and reflect on the profound truth of God's forgiveness and the relief it brings to the soul.(5) I acknowledged.--The fact that this verb is future, as also "I will confess" in the next clause, as well as the requirements of the passage, uphold Hupfeld's suggestion that "I said" has changed its place, and should be replaced at the beginning of the verse. (Comp. Psalm 73:15, and Note.) The sense is,

"I said, 'I will acknowledge my sin unto thee,

And I did not hide mine iniquity.

(I said) 'I will confess my transgression unto Jehovah,

And thou forgavest the guilt of my sin."

Verse 5. - I acknowledged my sin unto thee (comp. 2 Samuel 12:13). Conscience once fully awakened, all reticence was broken down. David confessed his sin fully and freely - confessed it as "sin," as "transgression," and as "iniquity" (compare the comment on ver. 1). And mine iniquity have I not hid; rather, did I not hide. I did not attempt to gloss over or conceal the extent of my guilt, but laid my soul bare before thee. Hengstenberg well remarks that the psalmist is probably not speaking of a "making known by the mouth," but of "an inward confession, such as is accompanied with painful repentance and sorrow, with begging of pardon for sin and for the offence rendered to the Divine Majesty." I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Upon David's confession, whether it were inward or outward, followed without any interval God's forgiveness - forgiveness which, however, did not preclude the exaction of a penalty required for the justification of God's ways to man (2 Samuel 12:14), and also, perhaps, for proper impressing of the offender himself, who would have been less sensible of the heinousness of his sin, if it had gone unpunished.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then I acknowledged
אוֹדִ֪יעֲךָ֡ (’ō·w·ḏî·‘ă·ḵā)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular | second person masculine singular
Strong's 3045: To know

my sin to You
חַטָּאתִ֨י (ḥaṭ·ṭā·ṯî)
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 2403: An offence, its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, expiation, an offender

and did not
לֹֽא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

hide
כִסִּ֗יתִי (ḵis·sî·ṯî)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 3680: To plump, fill up hollows, to cover

my iniquity.
וַעֲוֺ֘נִ֤י (wa·‘ă·wō·nî)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - common singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 5771: Iniquity, guilt, punishment for iniquity

I said,
אָמַ֗רְתִּי (’ā·mar·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“I will confess
אוֹדֶ֤ה (’ō·w·ḏeh)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common singular
Strong's 3034: To throw, at, away, to revere, worship, to bemoan

my transgressions
פְ֭שָׁעַי (p̄ə·šā·‘ay)
Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 6588: Transgression

to the LORD,”
לַיהוָ֑ה (Yah·weh)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

and You
וְאַתָּ֨ה (wə·’at·tāh)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - second person masculine singular
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

forgave
נָ֘שָׂ֤אתָ (nā·śā·ṯā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 5375: To lift, carry, take

the guilt
עֲוֺ֖ן (‘ă·wōn)
Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 5771: Iniquity, guilt, punishment for iniquity

of my sin.
חַטָּאתִ֣י (ḥaṭ·ṭā·ṯî)
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 2403: An offence, its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, expiation, an offender

Selah
סֶֽלָה׃ (se·lāh)
Interjection
Strong's 5542: Suspension, pause


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OT Poetry: Psalm 32:5 I acknowledged my sin to you (Psalm Ps Psa.)
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