Psalms 40

1 For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the LORD; He inclined to me and heard my cry.

To the chief music-maker. Of David. A Psalm. When I was waiting quietly for the Lord, his heart was turned to me, and he gave ear to my cry.

2 He lifted me up from the pit of despair, out of the miry clay; He set my feet upon a rock, and made my footsteps firm.

He took me up out of a deep waste place, out of the soft and sticky earth; he put my feet on a rock, and made my steps certain.

3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.

And he put a new song in my mouth, even praise to our God; numbers have seen it with fear, and put their faith in the Lord.

4 Blessed is the man who has made the LORD his trust, who has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood.

Happy is the man who has faith in the Lord, and does not give honour to the men of pride or to those who are turned away to deceit.

5 Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders You have done, and the plans You have for us— none can compare to You— if I proclaim and declare them, they are more than I can count.

O Lord my God, great are the wonders which you have done in your thought for us; it is not possible to put them out in order before you; when I would give an account of them, their number is greater than I may say.

6 Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but my ears You have opened. Burnt offerings and sin offerings You did not require.

You had no desire for offerings of beasts or fruits of the earth; ears you made for me: for burned offerings and sin offerings you made no request.

7 Then I said, “Here I am, I have come— it is written about me in the scroll:

Then I said, See, I come; it is recorded of me in the roll of the book,

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

My delight is to do your pleasure, O my God; truly, your law is in my heart.

9 I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly; behold, I do not seal my lips, as You, O LORD, do know.

I have given news of righteousness in the great meeting; O Lord, you have knowledge that I have not kept back my words.

10 I have not covered up Your righteousness in my heart; I have declared Your faithfulness and salvation; I have not concealed Your loving devotion and faithfulness from the great assembly.

Your righteousness has not been folded away in my heart; I have made clear your true word and your salvation; I have not kept secret your mercy or your faith from the great meeting.

11 O LORD, do not withhold Your mercy from me; Your loving devotion and faithfulness will always guard me.

Take not away your gentle mercies from me, O Lord; let your mercy and your faith keep me safe for ever.

12 For evils without number surround me; my sins have overtaken me, so that I cannot see. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart has failed within me.

For unnumbered evils are round about me; my sins have overtaken me, so that I am bent down with their weight; they are more than the hairs of my head, my strength is gone because of them.

13 Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me; hurry, O LORD, to help me.

Be pleased, O Lord, to take me out of danger; O Lord, come quickly and give me help.

14 May those who seek my life be ashamed and confounded; may those who wish me harm be repelled and humiliated.

Let those who go after my soul for its destruction have shame and trouble together; let them be turned back and made foolish who take pleasure in my trouble.

15 May those who say to me, “Aha, aha!” be appalled at their own shame.

Let those who say to me, Aha, aha! be surprised because of their shame.

16 May all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; may those who love Your salvation always say, “The LORD be magnified!”

Let all those who are looking for you be glad and have joy in you; let the lovers of your salvation ever say, May the Lord be great.

17 But I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my helper and deliverer; O my God, do not delay.

Though I am poor and in need, the Lord has me in mind; you are my help and my saviour; let there be no waiting, O my God.