Psalms 40

1 For the end, a Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the Lord; and he attended to me, and listened to my supplication.

To the chief music-maker. Of David. A Psalm. When I was waiting quietly for the Lord, his heart was turned to me, and he gave ear to my cry.

2 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.

He took me up out of a deep waste place, out of the soft and sticky earth; he put my feet on a rock, and made my steps certain.

3 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.

And he put a new song in my mouth, even praise to our God; numbers have seen it with fear, and put their faith in the Lord.

4 Blessed [is] the man whose hope is in the name of the Lord, and [who] has not regarded vanities and false frenzies.

Happy is the man who has faith in the Lord, and does not give honour to the men of pride or to those who are turned away to deceit.

5 O Lord my God, you have multiplied your wonderful works, and in your thoughts there is none who shall be likened to you: I declared and spoke [of them]: they exceeded number.

O Lord my God, great are the wonders which you have done in your thought for us; it is not possible to put them out in order before you; when I would give an account of them, their number is greater than I may say.

6 Sacrifice and offering you would not; but a body have you prepared me: whole burnt offering and [sacrifice] for sin you did not require.

You had no desire for offerings of beasts or fruits of the earth; ears you made for me: for burned offerings and sin offerings you made no request.

7 Then I said, Behold, I come: in the volume of the book it is written concerning me,

Then I said, See, I come; it is recorded of me in the roll of the book,

8 I desired to do your will, O my God, and your law in the midst of mine heart.

My delight is to do your pleasure, O my God; truly, your law is in my heart.

9 I have preached righteousness in the great congregation; behold! I will not refrain my lips; O Lord, you know my righteousness.

I have given news of righteousness in the great meeting; O Lord, you have knowledge that I have not kept back my words.

10 I have not hid your truth within my heart, and I have declared your salvation; I have not hid your mercy and your truth from the great congregation.

Your righteousness has not been folded away in my heart; I have made clear your true word and your salvation; I have not kept secret your mercy or your faith from the great meeting.

11 But you, Lord, remove not your compassion far from me; your mercy and your truth have helped me continually.

Take not away your gentle mercies from me, O Lord; let your mercy and your faith keep me safe for ever.

12 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.

For unnumbered evils are round about me; my sins have overtaken me, so that I am bent down with their weight; they are more than the hairs of my head, my strength is gone because of them.

13 Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me; O Lord, draw near to help me.

Be pleased, O Lord, to take me out of danger; O Lord, come quickly and give me help.

14 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.

Let those who go after my soul for its destruction have shame and trouble together; let them be turned back and made foolish who take pleasure in my trouble.

15 Let those that say to me, Aha, aha, quickly receive shame for their reward.

Let those who say to me, Aha, aha! be surprised because of their shame.

16 Let all those that seek you, O Lord, exult and rejoice in you; and let them that love your salvation say continually, The Lord be magnified.

Let all those who are looking for you be glad and have joy in you; let the lovers of your salvation ever say, May the Lord be great.

17 But I am poor and needy; the Lord will take care of me; you are my helper, and my defender, O my God, delay not.

Though I am poor and in need, the Lord has me in mind; you are my help and my saviour; let there be no waiting, O my God.