Psalms 40

1 For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for Jehovah; And he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

For the leader. A psalm of David. For the Lord I waited and waited, till, inclining to me, he heard my cry.

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

From the horrible pit he drew me, up out of the miry clay; he set my feet on a rock, and my steps he made firm.

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 Jehovah.

He put a new song in my mouth, of praise to our God. Many see it, and, filled with awe, put their trust in the Lord.

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

Happy the person who has put in the Lord their trust, not looking to false gods or turning to idols.

5 Many, O Jehovah my God, are the wonderful works which thou hast done, And thy thoughts which are to us-ward: They cannot be set in order unto thee; If I would declare and speak of them, They are more than can be numbered.

With us you have wrought in rich measure, O Lord our God, your marvels and purposes for us – none may compare with you – were I to declare or to tell them, past counting are they.

6 Sacrifice and offering thou hast no delight in; Mine ears hast thou opened: Burnt-offering and sin-offering hast thou not required.

In offerings bloody or bloodless you have no delight, but with open ears you have made me. Burnt-offering and offering for sin are not what you ask.

7 Then said I, Lo, I am come; In the roll of the book it is written of me:

Then said I, ‘Here I am, as the roll of the book has enjoined.

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

My delight, O God, is to do your will, and your law is within my heart.’

9 I have proclaimed glad tidings of righteousness in the great assembly; Lo, I will not refrain my lips, O Jehovah, thou knowest.

Well, O Lord, you know that, with lips unrestrained, your righteousness I told in the great congregation,

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 assembly.

not hiding it in my heart. I have told of your steadfast help, from the great congregation I hid not your love and your faithfulness.

11 Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O Jehovah; Let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.

So do not restrain, Lord, your pity from us. Your love and your faithfulness – ever may they be our shield.

12 For innumerable evils have compassed me about; Mine iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to look up; They are more than the hairs of my head; And my heart hath failed me.

For evils that cannot be numbered have compassed me round. My transgressions have followed me up – I can bear it no more. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart has forsaken me.

13 Be pleased, O Jehovah, to deliver me: Make haste to help me, O Jehovah.

O Lord, be pleased to deliver me, haste to my help, O Lord.

14 Let them be put to shame and confounded together That seek after my soul to destroy it: Let them be turned backward and brought to dishonor That delight in my hurt.

May those who are seeking my life be ashamed and confounded together; may those who delight in my hurt be defeated and brought to dishonour.

15 Let them be desolate by reason of their shame That say unto me, Aha, aha.

May those who hurrah over me be dumbfounded because of their shame.

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

But may all who seek after you rejoice and be glad in you. May all those eager for your aid, say, ‘Great is the Lord’ evermore.

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.

I am weak and needy, yet the Lord cares for me. You are my help and deliverer; don’t delay, my God.