Psalms 40
1 For the leader. A psalm of David. For the Lord I waited and waited, till, inclining to me, he heard my cry.
For the end, a Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the Lord; and he attended to me, and hearkened to my supplication.
2 From the horrible pit he drew me, up out of the miry clay; he set my feet on a rock, and my steps he made firm.
And he brought me up out of a pit of misery, and from miry clay: and he set my feet on a rock, and ordered my goings aright.
3 He put a new song in my mouth, of praise to our God. Many see it, and, filled with awe, put their trust in the Lord.
And he put a new song into my mouth, [even] a hymn to our God: many shall see [it], and fear, and shall hope in the Lord.
4 Happy the person who has put in the Lord their trust, not looking to false gods or turning to idols.
Blessed [is] the man whose hope is in the name of the Lord, and [who] has not regarded vanities and false frenzies.
5 With us you have wrought in rich measure, O Lord our God, your marvels and purposes for us – none may compare with you – were I to declare or to tell them, past counting are they.
O Lord my God, thou hast multiplied thy wonderful works, and in thy thoughts there is none who shall be likened to thee: I declared and spoke [of them]: they exceeded number.
6 In offerings bloody or bloodless you have no delight, but with open ears you have made me. Burnt-offering and offering for sin are not what you ask.
Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not; but a body hast thou prepared me: whole-burnt-offering and [sacrifice] for sin thou didst not require.
7 Then said I, ‘Here I am, as the roll of the book has enjoined.
Then I said, Behold, I come: in the volume of the book it is written concerning me,
8 My delight, O God, is to do your will, and your law is within my heart.’
I desired to do thy will, O my God, and thy law in the midst of mine heart.
9 Well, O Lord, you know that, with lips unrestrained, your righteousness I told in the great congregation,
I have preached righteousness in the great congregation; lo! I will not refrain my lips; O Lord, thou knowest my righteousness.
10 not hiding it in my heart. I have told of your steadfast help, from the great congregation I hid not your love and your faithfulness.
I have not hid thy truth within my heart, and I have declared thy salvation; I have not hid thy mercy and thy truth from the great congregation.
11 So do not restrain, Lord, your pity from us. Your love and your faithfulness – ever may they be our shield.
But thou, Lord, remove not thy compassion far from me; thy mercy and thy truth have helped me continually.
12 For evils that cannot be numbered have compassed me round. My transgressions have followed me up – I can bear it no more. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart has forsaken me.
For innumerable evils have encompassed me; my transgressions have taken hold of me, and I could not see; they are multiplied more than the hairs of my head; and my heart has failed me.
13 O Lord, be pleased to deliver me, haste to my help, O Lord.
Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me; O Lord, draw nigh to help me.
14 May those who are seeking my life be ashamed and confounded together; may those who delight in my hurt be defeated and brought to dishonour.
Let those that seek my soul, to destroy it, be ashamed and confounded together; let those that wish me evil be turned backward and put to shame.
15 May those who hurrah over me be dumbfounded because of their shame.
Let those that say to me, Aha, aha, quickly receive shame for their reward.
16 But may all who seek after you rejoice and be glad in you. May all those eager for your aid, say, ‘Great is the Lord’ evermore.
Let all those that seek thee, O Lord, exult and rejoice in thee; and let them that love thy salvation say continually, The Lord be magnified.
17 I am weak and needy, yet the Lord cares for me. You are my help and deliverer; don’t delay, my God.
But I am poor and needy; the Lord will take care of me; thou art my helper, and my defender, O my God, delay not.
