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Psalm 32:5

ESV 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
NIV 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.
NASB 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
CSB 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
NLT 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
KJV 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.

What does Psalm 32:5 mean?

The Lord sent the prophet Nathan to David to expose his sins and bring about confession and forgiveness (2 Samuel 12). David responded by confessing his sin, and subsequently the Lord forgave him (2 Samuel 12:13; Psalm 51:1). Here, David correctly identifies his sins as "transgressions." This is a term which literally means to "cross lines" and is related to concepts such as "trespassing." He had purposely breached boundaries the Lord had set regarding sins such as adultery and murder (Exodus 20:13–14).

It is important to note that David confessed his transgressions to God—whether he admitted them to other people was not a concern (1 John 1:8–10). God alone can forgive sin. When Jesus healed a paralyzed man, He also forgave the man's sins. The scribes and Pharisees strongly objected to the pronounced forgiveness. They asked, "Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?" (Luke 5:21). Of course, Jesus was God incarnate with the power not only to heal the paralyzed man but also to forgive him. Anyone who seeks forgiveness must call on the one who can forgive sin (John 3:36).
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