The Joy of Forgiveness (Romans 4:1–12)
1 UST A song of David Those whom God has forgiven for rebelling against him, and those whose sin God has atoned for, these are the ones who will have a truly good life! BSB BSB: Of David. A Maskil. Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
2 UST Those whose record of sins Yahweh no longer takes into account, and those who are not deceitful, these are the ones who will have a truly good life! BSB BSB: Blessed is the man whose iniquity the LORD does not count against him, in whose spirit there is no deceit.
3 UST When I did not confess my sins, my body felt weak and sick, and I groaned all day long. BSB BSB: When I kept silent, my bones became brittle from my groaning all day long.
4 UST Day and night, Yahweh, you afflicted me. My strength was sapped like it would be on a hot summer day. Selah BSB BSB: For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was drained as in the summer heat. Selah
5 UST { Then} I confessed my sinful actions to you; I stopped trying to hide them. I said to myself,“I will tell Yahweh the wrong things that I have done.” When I confessed them, you forgave me, so now I am no longer guilty for the sinful things I did. Selah BSB BSB: 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
6 UST Therefore all the people who are godly should pray to you when they realize they have sinned.{ If they do that,} then it is certain that difficulties will not overwhelm them like a great flood. BSB BSB: Therefore let all the godly pray to You while You may be found. Surely when great waters rise, they will not come near.
7 UST You are like a place where I can hide from my enemies; you protect me from troubles and surround me with people who are joyfully praising you for saving me from my enemies. Selah BSB BSB: You are my hiding place. You protect me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah
8 UST I will teach you about how you should conduct your life. I will teach you personally. BSB BSB: I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will give you counsel and watch over you.
9 UST Do not be like horses and mules that do not have understanding; they need pieces of metal put in their mouth and ropes fastened to their head so they will go in the direction you want them to go. BSB BSB: Do not be like the horse or mule, which have no understanding; they must be controlled with bit and bridle to make them come to you.
10 UST Wicked people will have many difficult things in their lives that will make them sad, but those who trust in Yahweh will experience him faithfully loving them all the time. BSB BSB: Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but loving devotion surrounds him who trusts in the LORD.
11 UST { So, all} you righteous people, rejoice about{ what} Yahweh{ has done for you}! All you whose inner beings are pure, be glad and shout joyfully! BSB BSB: Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, O righteous ones; shout for joy, all you upright in heart.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.