Psalms 40

1 For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the LORD; He inclined 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 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.

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

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, 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.

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, but my ears You have opened. Burnt offerings and sin offerings You did not require.

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, “Here I am, I have come— it is written about me 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, O my God; 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 proclaim righteousness in the great assembly; behold, I do not seal my lips, as You, O LORD, do 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 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.

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

Withhold not thou, O Lord, thy tender mercies from me: thy mercy and thy truth have always upheld me.

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 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, O LORD, to deliver me; hurry, O LORD, to help me.

Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me, look down, O Lord, to help me.

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

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

Let them immediately bear their confusion, that say to me: Tis well, tis well.

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 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 of me. You are my helper and deliverer; O my God, do not delay.

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.