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The One Who Rescues Me

For the choir director. Of David. A Psalm.

40 I (A)hoped [a]earnestly for Yahweh;
And He inclined to me and (B)heard my cry for help.
He brought me up out of the (C)pit of destruction, out of the [b]miry clay,
And (D)He set my feet upon a high rock, (E)He established my steps.
He put a (F)new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God;
Many will (G)see and fear
And will trust in Yahweh.

How (H)blessed is the man who has made Yahweh his trust,
And (I)has not [c]turned to the proud, nor to those who (J)stray into falsehood.
Many, O Yahweh my God, are (K)the wondrous deeds You have done,
And Your (L)thoughts toward us;
There is none to compare with You.
I would declare and speak of them,
But they (M)are too numerous to recount.

[d](N)Sacrifice and meal offering [e]You have not desired;
My ears You have [f]opened;
Burnt offering and sin offering You have not required.
Then I said, “Behold, I come;
In the scroll of the book it is [g]written of me.
(O)I desire to do Your will, O my God;
(P)Your law is within my inner being.”

I (Q)proclaim good news of righteousness in the great assembly;
Behold, I do (R)not restrain my lips,
O Yahweh, (S)You know.
10 I do (T)not conceal Your righteousness within my heart;
I (U)speak of Your faithfulness and Your salvation;
I do not hide Your lovingkindness and Your truth from the great assembly.

11 You, O Yahweh, will not withhold Your compassion from me;
[h]Your (V)lovingkindness and Your truth will continually guard me.
12 For evils beyond number have (W)surrounded me;
My (X)iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to see;
They are (Y)more numerous than the hairs of my head,
And my (Z)heart has [i]failed me.

13 (AA)Be pleased, O Yahweh, to deliver me;
Make (AB)haste, O Yahweh, to help me.
14 Let those be (AC)ashamed and humiliated together
Who (AD)seek my [j]life to sweep it away;
Let those be turned back and dishonored
Who delight in [k]evil against me.
15 Let those (AE)be [l]appalled because of their shame
Who (AF)say to me, “Aha, aha!”
16 (AG)Let all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You;
Let those who love Your salvation (AH)say continually,
“Yahweh be magnified!”
17 As for me, (AI)I am afflicted and needy,
[m](AJ)May the Lord think of me.
You are my help and the One who rescues me;
Do not delay, O my God.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 40:1 Or intently
  2. Psalm 40:2 Lit mud of the mire
  3. Psalm 40:4 Lit regarded
  4. Psalm 40:6 Blood sacrifice
  5. Psalm 40:6 Or You have not taken pleasure in
  6. Psalm 40:6 Lit dug; or possibly pierced
  7. Psalm 40:7 Or prescribed for
  8. Psalm 40:11 Or May...guard me
  9. Psalm 40:12 Lit forsaken
  10. Psalm 40:14 Or soul
  11. Psalm 40:14 Or my calamity
  12. Psalm 40:15 Or desolated
  13. Psalm 40:17 Or The Lord is mindful

To the Director: A Davidic Psalm.

Prayer for Help and Praise to God

40 I waited expectantly[a] for the Lord,
    and he took notice of me
        and heard my cry.
He plucked me out of a pit of confusion,[b]
    even out of the quicksand;
he placed my feet on a rock
    and established my steps.
He put a new song in my mouth,
    praise to our God!
Many will watch and be in awe,
    and they will place their trust in the Lord.

How blessed is that strong person
    who places his trust in the Lord,
    and who has not acknowledged the proud
        nor resorted to lies.
Lord, my God,
    You have done great things:
        marvelous works and your thoughts toward us.
There is no one who compares to you!
    I will try to recite your actions,[c]
        even though there are too many to number.

You take no delight in sacrifices and offerings—
    you have prepared my ears to listen—[d]
        you require no burnt offerings or sacrifices for sin.
Then I said, “Here I am! I have come!
    In the scroll of the book it is written about me.
I delight to do your will, my God.
    Your Law is part of my inner being.”

In the great congregation I have proclaimed the righteous good news.
    Behold, I did not seal my lips, Lord, as you know.
10 I have not ignored[e] your righteousness in my heart;
    instead, I have proclaimed your faithfulness and deliverance.
I have not concealed your gracious love and truthfulness
    from the great congregation.

11 Lord, do not withhold your mercy[f] from me,
    for your gracious love and truthfulness will keep me safe continuously.
12 Innumerable evils have surrounded me;
    my iniquities have overtaken me so that I cannot see.
They are more in number than the hair on my head,
    and my courage[g] has forsaken me.

13 Be pleased, Lord, to deliver me;
    Lord, hurry up and help me!
14 May those who seek to destroy my life be ashamed and confounded;
    let them be driven backwards and humiliated,
        particularly those who wish me evil.
15 Let shame be the reward for those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!”

16 Let all who seek you shout for joy and be glad in you.
May those who love your deliverance say,
    “The Lord be magnified!” continuously.
17 But I am poor and needy;
    may the Lord think about me.
You are my help and deliverer.
    My God, do not tarry too long!

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 40:1 Or eagerly
  2. Psalm 40:2 Or destruction
  3. Psalm 40:5 Lit. recite them
  4. Psalm 40:6 The Heb. lacks to listen
  5. Psalm 40:10 Lit. not covered over
  6. Psalm 40:11 Lit. mercies
  7. Psalm 40:12 Lit. heart