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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

Thanksgiving for Deliverance and Prayer for Help

To the leader. Of David. A Psalm.

I waited patiently for the Lord;
    he inclined to me and heard my cry.(A)
He drew me up from the desolate pit,[a]
    out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock,
    making my steps secure.(B)
He put a new song in my mouth,
    a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear
    and put their trust in the Lord.(C)

Happy are those who make
    the Lord their trust,
who do not turn to the proud,
    to those who go astray after false gods.(D)
You have multiplied, O Lord my God,
    your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us;
    none can compare with you.
Were I to proclaim and tell of them,
    they would be more than can be counted.(E)

Sacrifice and offering you do not desire,
    but you have given me an open ear.[b]
Burnt offering and sin offering
    you have not required.(F)
Then I said, “Here I am;
    in the scroll of the book it is written of me.[c]
I delight to do your will, O my God;
    your law is within my heart.”(G)

I have told the glad news of deliverance
    in the great congregation;
see, I have not restrained my lips,
    as you know, O Lord.(H)
10 I have not hidden your saving help within my heart;
    I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation;
I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness
    from the great congregation.(I)

11 Do not, O Lord, withhold
    your mercy from me;
let your steadfast love and your faithfulness
    keep me safe forever.(J)
12 For evils have encompassed me
    without number;
my iniquities have overtaken me
    until I cannot see;
they are more than the hairs of my head,
    and my heart fails me.(K)

13 Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me;
    O Lord, make haste to help me.(L)
14 Let all those be put to shame and confusion
    who seek to snatch away my life;
let those be turned back and brought to dishonor
    who desire my hurt.(M)
15 Let those be appalled because of their shame
    who say to me, “Aha, Aha!”(N)

16 But may all who seek you
    rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who love your salvation
    say continually, “Great is the Lord!”(O)
17 As for me, I am poor and needy,
    but the Lord takes thought for me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
    do not delay, O my God.(P)

Footnotes

  1. 40.2 Cn: Heb pit of tumult
  2. 40.6 Heb ears you have dug for me
  3. 40.7 Meaning of Heb uncertain