Psalm 32

Abraham Coles

2 Whose penitence is found sincere;
Whose spirit knows no guile;
Whose earthly pilgrimage is cheered
By God's approving smile.

3 When I kept silence I waxed old.
Through moaning all day long;
4 Thy hand was heavy day and night.
For unacknowledged wrong.

The moisture of my fevered frame
Was changed to summer drought;
I felt the sting of conscious guilt.
But could not pluck it out.

5 Acknowledged I my sin to Thee,
With sense of what was fit;
I said, I will confess my fault,
And Thou forgavest it.

6 For this let every godly one
To Thee in prayer abound
In an accepted time, when Thou
May'st certainly be found.

They surely shall not reach to him,
When whelming waters rave;
When danger's near, Thou'rt nearer yet,
And powerful to save.

7 Thou art for me a Hiding Place
In trouble. Thou wilt make
Songs of divine deliverance
On every side to break.

8 I will instruct Thee in the way,
Thy duty 't is to go —
With mine eye on Thee, counsel thee
What paths to tread below.

9 Be not as horse or mule that must,
Irrational and dumb,
With bit and bridle be held firm,
To make them stay or come:

10 The wicked many sorrows have;
But whoso trusts the Lord,
Mercy shall compass him about
And grace be on him poured.

11 Exult, ye righteous, and rejoice;
In praise bear each his part;
Ring out your gladness, O all ye
Who upright are in heart!