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Psalm 40

David wrote this song for the music leader.

God has helped me [ a ]

40 I was patient while I waited for the Lord to help me.
He turned towards me,
and he heard me when I called to him.
2 He lifted me out of the deep hole of danger.
He picked me up out of the mud.
He put my feet on a rock.
Then I could walk and not slip.
3 He gave me a new song to sing.
It was a song to praise our God.
Many people will see what God has done to help me.
Then they will respect and obey him.
Yes, they will trust in the Lord .
4 If anyone trusts in the Lord
he blesses them!
They do not expect proud people to help them.
They do not join with those people who worship false gods.
5 Lord , my God, you have done many great things.
You have done so many things for us
that we cannot count them!
There is nobody else like you!
I want to talk about the things that you have done,
but there are too many things to speak about!

6 You do not really want sacrifices and offerings.
I understand that!
You do not ask for burnt offerings
or sin offerings.
7 Then I said, ‘Here I am, my God!
The message that is written in the book
tells me what I must do. [ b ]
8 I want to do what pleases you.
Your law is always in my thoughts.’
9 In the great meeting of your people,
I have told them about your justice.
I cannot keep quiet!
You know that this is true, Lord .
10 I have not hidden the good news about your justice.
I have told everyone that they can trust you,
and that you have the power to save.
I tell the great meeting of your people about your faithful love.
11 You, Lord , will continue to be kind to me.
Please continue to keep me safe,
because of your faithful love.
12 There are many dangerous troubles all around me.
They are too many to count!
My sins are too strong for me.
They are more than all the hairs on my head!
So I am weak and I cannot see clearly.

13 Lord , please save me!
Lord , come quickly to help me!
14 Chase away the people who want to kill me!
Cause them to become ashamed and confused.
Chase away the people who want to hurt me,
so that they run away in shame.
15 When people laugh at me,
make them sorry for what they have done.

16 Lord , may those who come to you be very happy,
because you have saved them.
They should never stop saying,
‘Praise the Lord !’
17 But I am poor and weak, my Lord.
Please continue to think about me.
You are the one who helps me and who saves me.
My God, come quickly to help me!

Footnotes

  1. 40:1 Psalm 40 is a song that says ‘thank you’ to God. But David still has problems. So he will always need God's help.
  2. 40:7 In the New Testament Jesus uses these words about himself. See Hebrews 10:7 .

To the director: A song of David.

40 I called [ a ] to the Lord , and he heard me.
He heard my cries.
2 He lifted me out of the grave. [ b ]
He lifted me from that muddy place. [ c ]
He picked me up, put me on solid ground,
and kept my feet from slipping.
3 He put a new song [ d ] in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God.
Many will see what he did and worship him.
They will put their trust in the Lord .
4 Great blessings belong to those who trust in the Lord ,
for those who do not turn to demons and false gods [ e ] for help.
5 Lord my God, you have done many amazing things!
You have made great plans for us—too many to list.
I could talk on and on about them,
because there are too many to count.

6 Lord, you made me understand this: [ f ]
You don’t really want sacrifices and grain offerings.
You don’t want burnt offerings and sin offerings.
7 So I said, “Here I am,
ready to do what was written about me in the book.
8 My God, I am happy to do whatever you want.
I never stop thinking about your teachings.”
9 I told the good news of victory [ g ] to the people in the great assembly.
And, Lord , you know that I will never stop telling that good news.
10 I told about the good things you did.
I did not hide these things in my heart.
I spoke of how you can be trusted to save us.
I did not hide your love and loyalty from those in the great assembly.
11 Lord , do not hide your mercy from me.
Let your love and loyalty always protect me.

12 Troubles have surrounded me.
They are too many to count!
My sins have caught me,
and I cannot escape them.
They are more than the hairs on my head.
I have lost my courage.
13 Please, Lord , rescue me!
Lord , hurry and help me!
14 People are trying to kill me.
Please disappoint them.
Humiliate them completely!
They wanted to hurt me.
Make them run away in shame!
15 May those who make fun of me
be too embarrassed to speak!
16 But may those who come to you be happy and rejoice.
May those who love being saved by you always be able to say, “Praise the Lord !” [ h ]

17 My Lord, I am only a poor, helpless man,
but please pay attention to me.
You are my helper, the one who can save me.
My God, don’t be too late.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 40:1 called Or “waited patiently.”
  2. Psalm 40:2 grave Literally, “pit of destruction.” That is, “Sheol,” the place of death.
  3. Psalm 40:2 muddy place In many ancient stories, Sheol, the place of death, is a dark place with mud all around, like a grave.
  4. Psalm 40:3 new song Whenever God did a new and wonderful thing for his people, they would write a new song about it.
  5. Psalm 40:4 demons and false gods Or “proud and deceptive people.”
  6. Psalm 40:6 you made … this Literally, “you have dug my ears.” The ancient Greek version has “you prepared a body for me.”
  7. Psalm 40:9 victory Or “goodness” or “righteousness.”
  8. Psalm 40:16 Praise the Lord Literally, “The Lord is great” or “May the Lord be magnified.”

40 I waited patiently for the Lord ; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.

3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord .

4 Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.

5 Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.

6 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.

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

8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.

9 I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O Lord , thou knowest.

10 I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.

11 Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O Lord : let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.

12 For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me.

13 Be pleased, O Lord , to deliver me: O Lord , make haste to help me.

14 Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil.

15 Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha.

16 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The Lord be magnified.

17 But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.

God Sustains His Servant.

For the music director. A Psalm of David.

40 I ( A ) waited [ a ] patiently for the Lord ;
And He reached down to me and ( B ) heard my cry.
2 He brought me up out of the ( C ) pit of [ b ] destruction, out of the mud;
And ( D ) He set my feet on a rock, ( E ) making my footsteps firm.
3 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 the Lord .

4 How ( H ) blessed is the man who has made the Lord his trust,
And ( I ) has not turned to the [ c ] proud, nor to those who ( J ) become involved in falsehood.
5 Many, Lord my God, are ( K ) the wonders which You have done,
And Your ( L ) thoughts toward us;
There is no one to compare with You.
If I would declare and speak of them,
They ( M ) would be too numerous to count.

6 ( N ) You have not desired [ d ] sacrifice and meal offering;
You have [ e ] opened my ears;
You have not required burnt offering and sin offering.
7 Then I said, “Behold, I have come;
It is [ f ] written of me in the scroll of the book.
8 ( O ) I delight to do Your will, my God;
( P ) Your Law is within my [ g ] heart.”

9 I have ( Q ) proclaimed good news of righteousness in the great congregation;
Behold, I will ( R ) not restrain my lips,
Lord , ( S ) You know.
10 I have ( T ) not hidden Your righteousness within my heart;
I have ( U ) spoken of Your faithfulness and Your salvation;
I have not concealed Your mercy and Your truth from the great congregation.

11 You, Lord , will not withhold Your compassion from me;
[ h ] Your ( V ) mercy and Your truth will continually watch over me.
12 For evils beyond number have ( W ) surrounded me;
My ( X ) guilty deeds 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, Lord , to rescue me;
( AB ) Hurry, Lord , to help me.
14 May those be ( AC ) ashamed and humiliated together
Who ( AD ) seek my [ j ] life to destroy it;
May those be turned back and dishonored
Who delight [ k ] in my hurt.
15 May those ( AE ) be [ l ] appalled because of their shame
Who ( AF ) say to me, “Aha, aha!”
16 ( AG ) May all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You;
May those who love Your salvation continually ( AH ) say,
“The Lord be exalted!”
17 But ( AI ) I am afflicted and needy;
( AJ ) May the Lord be mindful of me.
You are my help and my savior;
Do not delay, my God.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 40:1 Or intently
  2. Psalm 40:2 Lit wasteland ; i.e., the underworld
  3. Psalm 40:4 Or enemies
  4. Psalm 40:6 I.e., blood sacrifice
  5. Psalm 40:6 Lit dug ; or possibly pierced
  6. Psalm 40:7 Or prescribed for
  7. Psalm 40:8 Lit inner being
  8. Psalm 40:11 Or May...preserve
  9. Psalm 40:12 Lit forsaken
  10. Psalm 40:14 Or soul
  11. Psalm 40:14 Or to injure me
  12. Psalm 40:15 Or desolated

Psalm 40 [ a ] ( A )

For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.

1 I waited patiently ( B ) for the Lord ;
he turned to me and heard my cry. ( C )
2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, ( D )
out of the mud ( E ) and mire; ( F )
he set my feet ( G ) on a rock ( H )
and gave me a firm place to stand.
3 He put a new song ( I ) in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear the Lord ( J )
and put their trust ( K ) in him.

4 Blessed is the one ( L )
who trusts in the Lord , ( M )
who does not look to the proud, ( N )
to those who turn aside to false gods. [ b ] ( O )
5 Many, Lord my God,
are the wonders ( P ) you have done,
the things you planned for us.
None can compare ( Q ) with you;
were I to speak and tell of your deeds,
they would be too many ( R ) to declare.

6 Sacrifice and offering you did not desire— ( S )
but my ears you have opened [ c ] — ( T )
burnt offerings ( U ) and sin offerings [ d ] you did not require.
7 Then I said, “Here I am, I have come—
it is written about me in the scroll. [ e ] ( V )
8 I desire to do your will, ( W ) my God; ( X )
your law is within my heart.” ( Y )

9 I proclaim your saving acts ( Z ) in the great assembly; ( AA )
I do not seal my lips, Lord ,
as you know. ( AB )
10 I do not hide your righteousness in my heart;
I speak of your faithfulness ( AC ) and your saving help.
I do not conceal your love and your faithfulness
from the great assembly. ( AD )

11 Do not withhold your mercy ( AE ) from me, Lord ;
may your love ( AF ) and faithfulness ( AG ) always protect ( AH ) me.
12 For troubles ( AI ) without number surround me;
my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see. ( AJ )
They are more than the hairs of my head, ( AK )
and my heart fails ( AL ) within me.
13 Be pleased to save me, Lord ;
come quickly, Lord , to help me. ( AM )

14 May all who want to take my life ( AN )
be put to shame and confusion; ( AO )
may all who desire my ruin ( AP )
be turned back in disgrace.
15 May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!” ( AQ )
be appalled at their own shame.
16 But may all who seek you ( AR )
rejoice and be glad ( AS ) in you;
may those who long for your saving help always say,
“The Lord is great!” ( AT )

17 But as for me, I am poor and needy; ( AU )
may the Lord think ( AV ) of me.
You are my help ( AW ) and my deliverer; ( AX )
you are my God, do not delay. ( AY )

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 40:1 In Hebrew texts 40:1-17 is numbered 40:2-18.
  2. Psalm 40:4 Or to lies
  3. Psalm 40:6 Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts but a body you have prepared for me
  4. Psalm 40:6 Or purification offerings
  5. Psalm 40:7 Or come / with the scroll written for me
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