Psalms 40

1 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.

“To the chief musician, a psalm of David.” I had waited patiently for the Lord, when he inclined himself unto me, and heard my cry.

2 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.

And he brought me up out of the noiseful deep, out of the miry clay, and he set up my feet upon a rock, making firm my steps.

3 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.

And he placed in my mouth a new song, a praise unto our God: many will see it, and fear; and they will trust in the Lord.

4 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.

Happy is the man that maketh the Lord his trust, and turneth not unto the proud, nor such as stray aside unto lies.

5 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.

Many things hast thou done, O Lord my God; thy wonderful deeds and thy thoughts toward us—there is none to be compared unto thee—will I tell and speak of, [though] they are too numerous to be counted.

6 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.

Sacrifice and meat-offering thou desirest not—ears hast thou hollowed out unto me—burnt-offering and sin-offering thou demandest not.

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

Then said I, Lo, I come: in the roll of the book it is written down for me;

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

To fulfill thy will, O my God, do I desire; and thy law is within my heart.

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

I announce [thy] righteousness in the great assembly: lo, I will not refrain my lips, O Lord, thou well knowest it.

10 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.

Thy righteousness have I never hidden within my heart; thy faithfulness and thy salvation have I spoken of openly: I have not concealed thy kindness and thy truth before the great assembly.

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

Do thou, O Lord, not withhold thy mercies from me: let thy kindness and thy truth continually watch over me.

12 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.

For evils without number have compassed me about; my iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to see: they are more numerous than the hairs of my head; and my courage hath forsaken me.

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

Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me; O Lord, hasten to my help.

14 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.

May those be made ashamed and put to the blush together that seek after my soul to take her away: let them be driven backward and be confounded, that wish for my mishap.

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

May they be astonished in consequence of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha!

16 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.

[But] may all those that seek thee be glad and rejoice in thee: may they say continually, The Lord be magnified, —those that love thy salvation.

17 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.

But though I be poor and needy, the Lord will think of me: my help and my deliverer art thou: O my God, delay not.