< Psalms 40 >

1 For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. I waited patiently for the LORD. He turned to me, and heard my cry.
Unto the end, a psalm for David himself. With expectation I have waited for the Lord, and he was attentive to me.
2 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.
And he heard my prayers, and brought me out of the pit of misery and the mire of dregs. And he set my feet upon a rock, and directed my steps.
3 He has put a new song in my mouth, even praise to our God. Many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.
And he put a new canticle into my mouth, a song to our God. Many shall see, and shall fear: and they shall hope in the Lord.
4 Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, and does not respect the proud, nor such as turn away to lies.
Blessed is the man whose trust is in the name of the Lord; and who hath not had regard to vanities, and lying follies.
5 Many, LORD, my God, are the wonderful works which you have done, and your thoughts which are toward us. They cannot be declared back to you. If I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be counted.
Thou hast multiplied thy wonderful works, O Lord my God: and in thy thoughts there is no one like to thee. I have declared and I have spoken they are multiplied above number.
6 Sacrifice and offering you did not desire. You have opened my ears. You have not required burnt offering and sin offering.
Sacrifice and oblation thou didst not desire; but thou hast pierced ears for me. Burnt offering and sin offering thou didst not require:
7 Then I said, “Behold, I have come. It is written about me in the book in the scroll.
Then said I, Behold I come. In the head of the book it is written of me
8 I delight to do your will, my God. Yes, your law is within my heart.”
That I should do thy will: O my God, I have desired it, and thy law in the midst of my heart.
9 I have proclaimed glad news of righteousness in the great assembly. Behold, I will not seal my lips, LORD, you know.
I have declared thy justice in a great church, lo, I will not restrain my lips: O Lord, thou knowest it.
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.
I have not hid thy justice within my heart: I have declared thy truth and thy salvation. I have not concealed thy mercy and thy truth from a great council.
11 Do not withhold your tender mercies from me, LORD. Let your loving kindness and your truth continually preserve me.
Withhold not thou, O Lord, thy tender mercies from me: thy mercy and thy truth have always upheld 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.
For evils without number have surrounded me; my iniquities have overtaken me, and I was not able to see. They are multiplied above the hairs of my head: and my heart hath forsaken me.
13 Be pleased, LORD, to deliver me. Hurry to help me, LORD.
Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me, look down, O Lord, to help me.
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.
Let them be confounded and ashamed together, that seek after my soul to take it away. Let them be turned backward and be ashamed that desire evils to me.
15 Let them be desolate by reason of their shame that tell me, “Aha! Aha!”
Let them immediately bear their confusion, that say to me: Tis well, tis well.
16 Let all those who seek you rejoice and be glad in you. Let such as love your salvation say continually, “Let the LORD be exalted!”
Let all that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say always: The Lord be magnified.
17 But I am poor and needy. May the Lord think about me. You are my help and my deliverer. Do not delay, my God.
But I am a beggar and poor: the Lord is careful for me. Thou art my helper and my protector: O my God, be not slack.

< Psalms 40 >