Psalms 32:1,2

The blessedness of forgiveness. See Romans 4:6 ff. for St Paul's use of these verses.

Blessed Or, Happy. Cp. Psalms 1:1. The first beatitude of the Psalter is pronounced on an upright life; but since "there is no man that sinneth not" (1 Kings 8:46), there is another beatitude reserved for true penitence.

transgression sin iniquity The words thus rendered describe sin in different aspects (1) as rebellion, or breaking away from God: (2) as wandering from the way, or missing the mark: (3) as depravity, or moral distortion. Cp. Psalms 32:5; Psalms 51:1-3; Exodus 34:7. Forgiveness is also triply described (1) as the taking away of a burden; cp. John 1:29, and the expression -to bear iniquity": (2) as covering, so that the foulness of sin no longer meets the eye of the judge and calls for punishment; (3) as the cancelling of a debt, which is no longer reckoned against the offender: cp. 2 Samuel 19:19.

and in whose spiritthere is no guile No deceitfulness. The condition of forgiveness on man's part is absolute sincerity. There must be no attempt to deceive self or God. Cp. 1 John 1:8.