Psalm 32
"You are my hiding place"
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What does it say?
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The whole passage, in shortThe main points of the whole passage, in a few sentences.
David says, "Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered." When he kept his sin hidden, his body wasted away and God's hand was heavy on him. Then he confessed his sin to the LORD, and God forgave the guilt of his sin. Now God is his hiding place, and God promises, "I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go."
Where it is in the Bible: Psalm 32
Before You Read
Who wrote it. David (32:1).
What it is. A psalm about confession. David tried to hide his sin, and it made him sick inside. When he finally told God, he found relief and forgiveness.
Why it matters. It's one of seven "penitential psalms," psalms of sorrow for sin. Paul quotes it to show that God forgives as a gift (Romans 4:7-8).
How to read it. Notice the before and after: silence and groaning, then confession and joy.
Map of the Psalm
| Section | Verses | What it says |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Blessed Is the Forgiven | 32:1-2 | Happy are those whose sins are covered |
| 2. When I Kept Silent | 32:3-5 | Hiding sin hurt, and confessing it healed |
| 3. My Hiding Place | 32:6-7 | God protects the forgiven |
| 4. I Will Teach You | 32:8-11 | Trust God and rejoice |
Section by Section
Section 1 of 4Blessed Is the Forgiven
"Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered" (32:1).
"Blessed is the man whose iniquity the LORD does not count against him" (32:2).
Transgressions, sins, and iniquity: three words for doing wrong. God forgives them all.
Section 2 of 4When I Kept Silent
"When I kept silent, my bones became brittle from my groaning all day long" (32:3).
David felt God's hand heavy on him, day and night. He was drained, like a plant in summer heat.
Then he stopped hiding.
"I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD," and You forgave the guilt of my sin" (32:5).
Section 3 of 4My Hiding Place
David urges everyone to pray while God may be found.
"You are my hiding place. You protect me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance" (32:7).
Before, David hid from God. Now he hides in God.
Section 4 of 4I Will Teach You
God speaks: "I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will give you counsel and watch over you" (32:8).
Don't be stubborn like a mule that has to be dragged.
"Loving devotion surrounds him who trusts in the LORD" (32:10).
"Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, O righteous ones" (32:11).
Meaning
What does it mean?
Read It
What Does This Mean?
| The text says | It means |
|---|---|
| "Whose sins are covered" (32:1) | God covers our sins so they no longer count against us. |
| "When I kept silent" (32:3) | Hiding sin makes us miserable. |
| "I will confess my transgressions" (32:5) | Telling God the truth about our sin. |
| "You forgave the guilt of my sin" (32:5) | Forgiveness comes right away. |
| "You are my hiding place" (32:7) | God is a safe place. |
| "Like the horse or mule" (32:9) | Don't be stubborn with God. |
Back Then
"Selah" appears three times in this psalm. It may have been a musical pause.
Many people connect this psalm with David's sin with Bathsheba, when he hid his wrong for months (2 Samuel 11-12).
Literal Reader Alert
Does God forgive only if I feel bad enough? No. Forgiveness is God's gift. David just stopped hiding and told the truth.
Do I need to confess to a pastor? You can confess directly to God. Lutherans also value private confession, where a pastor speaks God's forgiveness to you personally.
How People Feel
| Who | Feeling | Why |
|---|---|---|
| David | Miserable | He kept his sin hidden (32:3-4) |
| David | Relieved | God forgave him (32:5) |
| David | Joyful | He shouts for joy (32:11) |
For you
What does it mean for me?
Your Turn
What do you need from this psalm? Tap one.
I'm hiding something
Silence hurts. Tell God. He forgives.
I feel guilty
Blessed are those whose sins are covered.
I need a safe place
God is your hiding place.
I'm not sure which way to go
God says, "I will teach you the way."
You Might Have Heard
"If I don't think about my sins, they won't bother me."
What's true: Dwelling on guilt can crush us.
What the passage is mainly about: David tried ignoring his sin, and it made him sick. "Then I acknowledged my sin to You... and You forgave the guilt of my sin" (32:5). Freedom came through confession.
Where Jesus is: His death covers our sins, so God no longer counts them against us.
Good News
Forgiveness is waiting.
"Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered" (32:1).
The moment David told the truth, God forgave. The same is true for you.
Hiding sin makes us miserable. When we confess, God forgives the guilt of our sin, and he becomes our hiding place.
Big Idea
Blessed are those whose sins are forgiven. When we stop hiding and confess, God forgives, and he becomes our hiding place.
If this passage brings up big feelings, talk with someone you trust, like a parent, pastor, or counselor.
For leaders and parentsLuther, church readings, and notes for teaching.
From Luther
Luther counted Psalm 32 among the "Pauline psalms," because it teaches that forgiveness is a gift of grace. He said it was one of his favorite psalms.
In Church
Many churches follow the Revised Common Lectionary. It sings Psalm 32 on the First Sunday in Lent in Year A and the Fourth Sunday in Lent in Year C, and on Sundays in summer and fall.
We quote Luther for what he got right about grace. He also wrote terrible things about Jewish people. Read our note on that.
Memorize
How do I keep it?
One line from this story to learn by heart. Practice a little now. It will come back later so it sticks.
Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
How did that feel?
Using this at church
Read in church on
- First Sunday in Lent Year APsalm, Psalm 32
- Fourth Sunday in Lent Year CPsalm, Psalm 32
- Lectionary 11 Year CPsalm, Psalm 32
- Lectionary 31 Year CPsalm, Psalm 32:1-7
For a newsletter or sermon notes
Psalm 32, explained in plain words. David tried to hide his sin, and it made him sick. When he confessed, God forgave. About 6 minutes. https://freescripture.org/stories/psalm-32/
Lines for the next eight Sundays, on Digital Lutheran Church