Psalm 32:11 kjv
Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.
Psalm 32:11 nkjv
Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous; And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!
Psalm 32:11 niv
Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!
Psalm 32:11 esv
Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!
Psalm 32:11 nlt
So rejoice in the LORD and be glad, all you who obey him!
Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!
Psalm 32 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 16:11 | ...in Your presence is fullness of joy... | Joy in God's presence. |
| Ps 33:1 | Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous!... | Direct command to righteous to rejoice. |
| Ps 97:12 | Rejoice in the LORD, you righteous, and give thanks... | Rejoicing tied to righteousness and thanksgiving. |
| Phil 4:4 | Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! | New Testament call to rejoice in the Lord. |
| Rom 5:11 | ...we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ... | Rejoicing in God through Christ. |
| Rom 14:17 | ...the kingdom of God is righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. | Joy as a fruit of God's Spirit in righteousness. |
| Neh 8:10 | ...the joy of the LORD is your strength. | God-given joy as spiritual strength. |
| 1 Chron 16:27 | Splendor and majesty are before Him; strength and joy are in His place. | Joy found in God's presence. |
| Job 8:21 | He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouting. | God bringing joy after affliction. |
| Isa 61:10 | I will greatly rejoice in the LORD...for He has clothed me... | Rejoicing in the Lord for salvation. |
| Hab 3:18 | Yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will exult in the God of my salvation. | Joy in God as Savior regardless of circumstances. |
| John 15:11 | These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you... | Christ's joy imparted to believers. |
| 1 Pet 1:8 | ...you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory. | Inexpressible joy in believing in Christ. |
| Deut 28:47 | Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joy and a glad heart... | Emphasis on joyful service to God. |
| Ps 100:2 | Serve the LORD with gladness; come before Him with joyful singing. | Service to God accompanied by gladness. |
| Ps 30:5 | ...weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning. | Transition from sorrow to joy. |
| Prov 15:15 | ...the cheerful heart has a continual feast. | Internal state of joy. |
| Ps 118:24 | This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. | Rejoicing in God's daily provisions. |
| Luke 6:23 | Rejoice in that day and leap for joy... | Rejoicing even in persecution for Christ. |
| Matt 5:8 | Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. | Connection between inner uprightness and seeing God. |
| Ps 5:11 | But let all who take refuge in You rejoice... | Rejoicing as a result of taking refuge in God. |
| Phil 3:1 | Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. | Consistent New Testament call to rejoice. |
| 1 Thess 5:16 | Rejoice always... | Paul's imperative for constant joy. |
Psalm 32 verses
Psalm 32 11 Meaning
Psalm 32:11 is a fervent call to exuberant joy directed at those who are in a right standing with God. Following a powerful declaration of the blessedness of forgiveness and confession, this verse climactically exhorts the "righteous" and "upright in heart" to find their source of gladness and triumph in the LORD Himself. It signifies the profound liberation and resulting joy that accompany divine pardon and a sincere heart toward God.
Psalm 32 11 Context
Psalm 32 is a Maschil, an instructional psalm of David, deeply reflective of his personal experience with sin and forgiveness, believed to be a consequence of his transgression with Bathsheba and Uriah (2 Sam 11-12). The psalm opens with the beatitude of the one whose transgression is forgiven (v. 1-2). David vividly recounts the internal agony and physical suffering endured while he kept silent about his sin (v. 3-4), contrasting it with the profound relief and guidance received upon confession and receiving God's pardon (v. 5-7). The LORD's subsequent instruction and promise of guidance further emphasize His restorative nature (v. 8-9). This verse serves as the jubilant culmination of this spiritual journey, an exuberant exhortation to all who experience such blessedness. It transitions from a personal testimony to a universal call for joyful response, grounding their joy in the Deliverer.
Psalm 32 11 Word analysis
- Be glad (גִּילוּ - gîlu): This Hebrew imperative denotes an effusive, even exuberant, form of joy, often suggesting leaping, whirling, or expressing intense delight outwardly. It's a command for the innermost being to celebrate with unrestrained enthusiasm.
- in the LORD (בַּיהוָה - baYHWH): The preeminent source and object of this gladness. The joy is not worldly or transient, but securely anchored in the eternal, unchanging character and covenant faithfulness of the LORD God. It's His attributes, His actions, and specifically His mercy shown in forgiveness within this psalm that evoke this response.
- and rejoice (וְשִׂמְחוּ - weṣimḥu): Another Hebrew imperative, often paired with gîlu for emphasis. While gîlu suggests exuberant expression, śimḥu carries the sense of general cheerfulness, gladness, or inner delight. Together, they form a powerful command for full and comprehensive joy, both internal and external.
- O righteous (צַדִּיקִים - ṣaddîqîm): Refers to those who are justified or in a right relationship with God. In the context of this psalm, this implies not merely inherently perfect people, but specifically those who have acknowledged their sin, received forgiveness, and are thereby accounted as righteous through God's grace. Their "right standing" is a gift received through repentance.
- and shout for joy (וְרַנְּנוּ - werannenū): A further imperative, denoting a loud, vocal expression of joy, often a triumphal shout, singing, or joyous acclamation. It emphasizes public declaration and unrestrained celebration, adding a dimension of praise and testimony to the joy.
- all you upright in heart (כָּל־יִשְׁרֵי־לֵב - kol-yishrey-lev): This phrase specifies the audience further, closely paralleling "O righteous." "Upright in heart" describes sincerity, integrity, and undivided devotion to God within one's innermost being. It indicates authenticity and transparency before God, especially crucial after the theme of concealed sin earlier in the psalm. It signifies those whose inner state aligns with God's truth, characterized by a willingness to confess and walk in His ways.
- Be glad in the LORD and rejoice: This phrase emphasizes that true, profound joy is rooted in God Himself, not in circumstances. The dual imperatives stress the importance and comprehensiveness of this divinely sourced gladness. It's an internal posture leading to external expression.
- O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart: This is a powerful address to the forgiven and transformed. The "righteous" are those whose sins have been covered (Ps 32:1-2), and the "upright in heart" are those whose inner commitment to truth and integrity reflects their response to God's grace. This group, now liberated from the burden of unconfessed sin, is called to manifest joyous triumph in God.
Psalm 32 11 Bonus section
This verse climaxes Psalm 32, one of the seven Penitential Psalms (Psa 6, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143), which deal profoundly with sin, repentance, and the search for divine mercy. The psalm’s didactic nature, indicated by its title "Maskil" (instructive), positions this call to joy as the learned outcome of David’s painful personal journey. The exuberant joy commanded here starkly contrasts with the previous imagery of physical and emotional suffering endured during a period of unconfessed sin, emphasizing the transformative power of God’s grace. This psalm’s early verses (v. 1-2) are directly quoted by the Apostle Paul in Rom 4:6-8 to illustrate the doctrine of justification by faith, affirming that being "accounted righteous" by God leads to profound spiritual blessing and thus, unreserved joy.
Psalm 32 11 Commentary
Psalm 32:11 serves as a grand crescendo to David's personal journey of sin, confession, and the overwhelming joy of forgiveness. It is a triumphant call, transforming his individual experience into a universal exhortation. The verse compels the forgiven—those whose relationship with God has been set right ("righteous") and whose inner spirit is honest before Him ("upright in heart")—to express profound and unreserved gladness. This joy is not merely emotional elation but a deep, Spirit-rooted jubilation sourced explicitly "in the LORD." It reflects the peace and freedom that follow sincere repentance and the glorious assurance of divine pardon, urging believers to openly celebrate their blessed state through shouts of joy and exultation in the one who forgives all iniquity.For practical usage, this verse can inspire a person experiencing guilt to confess and find liberating joy; it can encourage a congregation to worship God with fervent celebration for His forgiveness and restoration; and it can remind any believer that their deepest gladness comes from their secure standing and relationship with the LORD, enabling joyful living even amidst life's challenges.