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For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David.

40 I waited patiently for Yahweh.
    He turned to me, and heard my cry.
He brought me up also out of a horrible pit,
    out of the miry clay.
He set my feet on a rock,
    and gave me a firm place to stand.
He has put a new song in my mouth, even praise to our God.
    Many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in Yahweh.
Blessed is the man who makes Yahweh his trust,
    and doesn’t respect the proud, nor such as turn away to lies.
Many, Yahweh, my God, are the wonderful works which you have done,
    and your thoughts which are toward us.
They can’t be declared back to you.
    If I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be counted.
Sacrifice and offering you didn’t desire.
    You have opened my ears.
    You have not required burnt offering and sin offering.
Then I said, “Behold, I have come.
    It is written about me in the book in the scroll.
I delight to do your will, my God.
    Yes, your law is within my heart.”
I have proclaimed glad news of righteousness in the great assembly.
    Behold, I will not seal my lips, Yahweh, you know.
10 I have not hidden your righteousness within my heart.
    I have declared your faithfulness and your salvation.
    I have not concealed your loving kindness and your truth from the great assembly.
11 Don’t withhold your tender mercies from me, Yahweh.
    Let your loving kindness and your truth continually preserve me.
12 For innumerable evils have surrounded me.
    My iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to look up.
They are more than the hairs of my head.
    My heart has failed me.
13 Be pleased, Yahweh, to deliver me.
    Hurry to help me, Yahweh.
14 Let them be disappointed and confounded together who seek after my soul to destroy it.
    Let them be turned backward and brought to dishonor who delight in my hurt.
15 Let them be desolate by reason of their shame that tell me, “Aha! Aha!”
16 Let all those who seek you rejoice and be glad in you.
    Let such as love your salvation say continually, “Let Yahweh be exalted!”
17 But I am poor and needy.
    May the Lord think about me.
You are my help and my deliverer.
    Don’t delay, my God.

Psalm 40

For the choir director: A psalm of David.

I waited patiently for the Lord to help me,
    and he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the pit of despair,
    out of the mud and the mire.
He set my feet on solid ground
    and steadied me as I walked along.
He has given me a new song to sing,
    a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see what he has done and be amazed.
    They will put their trust in the Lord.

Oh, the joys of those who trust the Lord,
    who have no confidence in the proud
    or in those who worship idols.
O Lord my God, you have performed many wonders for us.
    Your plans for us are too numerous to list.
    You have no equal.
If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds,
    I would never come to the end of them.

You take no delight in sacrifices or offerings.
    Now that you have made me listen, I finally understand[a]
    you don’t require burnt offerings or sin offerings.
Then I said, “Look, I have come.
    As is written about me in the Scriptures:
I take joy in doing your will, my God,
    for your instructions are written on my heart.”

I have told all your people about your justice.
    I have not been afraid to speak out,
    as you, O Lord, well know.
10 I have not kept the good news of your justice hidden in my heart;
    I have talked about your faithfulness and saving power.
I have told everyone in the great assembly
    of your unfailing love and faithfulness.

11 Lord, don’t hold back your tender mercies from me.
    Let your unfailing love and faithfulness always protect me.
12 For troubles surround me—
    too many to count!
My sins pile up so high
    I can’t see my way out.
They outnumber the hairs on my head.
    I have lost all courage.

13 Please, Lord, rescue me!
    Come quickly, Lord, and help me.
14 May those who try to destroy me
    be humiliated and put to shame.
May those who take delight in my trouble
    be turned back in disgrace.
15 Let them be horrified by their shame,
    for they said, “Aha! We’ve got him now!”

16 But may all who search for you
    be filled with joy and gladness in you.
May those who love your salvation
    repeatedly shout, “The Lord is great!”
17 As for me, since I am poor and needy,
    let the Lord keep me in his thoughts.
You are my helper and my savior.
    O my God, do not delay.

Footnotes

  1. 40:6 Greek version reads You have given me a body. Compare Heb 10:5.