KJV: He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
ASV: He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
Matthew Henry Commentary
13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
Here is, 1. The folly of indulging sin, of palliating and excusing it, denying or extenuating it, diminishing it, dissembling it, or throwing the blame of it upon others: He that thus covers his sins shall not prosper, let him never expect it. He shall not succeed in his endeavour to cover his sin, for it will be discovered, sooner or later. There is nothing hid which shall not be revealed. A bird of the air shall carry the voice. Murder will out, and so will other sins. He shall not prosper, that is, he shall not obtain the pardon of his sin, nor can he have any true peace of conscience. David owns himself to have been in a constant agitation while he covered his sins, Ps 32:3,4. While the patient conceals his distemper he cannot expect a cure. 2. The benefit of parting with it, both by a penitent confession and a universal reformation: He that confesses his guilt to God, and is careful not to return to sin again, shall find mercy with God, and shall have the comfort of it in his own bosom. His conscience shall be eased and his ruin prevented. See 1Jo 1:9,Jer 3:12,13. When we set sin before our face (as David, My sin is ever before me) God casts it behind his back.
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