Psalm 32:6 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him.

NIV: Therefore let all the faithful pray to you while you may be found; surely the rising of the mighty waters will not reach them.

NASB: Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to You in a time when You may be found; Certainly in a flood of great waters, they will not reach him.

CSB: Therefore let everyone who is faithful pray to you immediately. When great floodwaters come, they will not reach him.

NLT: Therefore, let all the godly pray to you while there is still time, that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment.

KJV: For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.

NKJV: For this cause everyone who is godly shall pray to You In a time when You may be found; Surely in a flood of great waters They shall not come near him.

No one should procrastinate about calling on the name of the Lord. In this context, "calling" on Him means to seek God in sincerity and prayer, admitting our sin and repenting (2 Corinthians 7:9–10; Romans 10:13). Proverbs 27:1 warns against thinking tomorrow is secure. "Do not boast about tomorrow," this verse instructs, adding, "for you do not know what a day may bring." A person who thinks they can wait to submit to God until later is playing a dangerous, foolish game (Luke 12:19–20).

That sense of urgency is implied when David urges the godly pray to the Lord when He "may be found." Flooding is a common metaphor for great troubles or unexpected catastrophes. Although the Lord doesn't spare believers from every earthly trouble (John 16:33), He works everything for their good (Romans 8:28–30). Trials are not meant to crush believers, but to reveal the genuineness of their faith (1 Peter 1:6–7). Job encountered many tragedies and hardships; these were catastrophic, but not insurmountable or without purpose. They led to a revelation of God's power and glory and to a double blessing for Job (Job 42:10–17).

Psalm 32:5–7 comes after David noted the blessing of being forgiven of sin (Psalm 51:1). That forgiveness—in response to confession and repentance before God—alleviated the pain associated with stubborn disobedience. Now David relates what the Lord did when he confessed his sin. He also encourages godly people to pray so they can receive the benefit of calling on the Lord.

This psalm follows a progression of David's own experience: from the pressure of resisting confession, to the relief of being forgiven, to a renewed appreciation of God's graciousness for His people. David notes that being forgiven of sin is a great blessing, and those who resist repentance are delaying that restoration. He reflects on his own experience with stubbornness and encourages all people to seek God in sincerity.

Psalm 32 follows David's confession of the sins of adultery and murder. Psalm 51 records his initial response when confronted by the prophet Nathan. The background of David's sin, Nathan's rebuke, and the aftermath are found in 2 Samuel 11—12. For some undisclosed time, David refused to acknowledge his sin, but when he finally confessed it, the Lord graciously forgave him.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.