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. David’s. A Melody. I waited patiently for Yahweh, —And he inclined, unto me, and heard my cry for help;

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.

So he brought me up, Out of the destroying pit, Out of the swampy mire, —And set, upon a cliff, my feet, 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.

Then put he, into my mouth, a new song, Praise to our God, —Many shall see and revere, And shall trust in Yahweh.

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.

How happy the man, Who hath made Yahweh his confidence, who hath not turned unto the haughty, nor gone aside unto falsehood.

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.

Mighty things, hast thou done—Thou, Yahweh my God, Thy wonderful doings and thy purposes towards us, There is no setting them in order unto thee—I would tell, and would speak!—They are too great to rehearse.

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 meal-offering, thou didst not delight in, Ears, didst thou pierce for me, —Ascending-sacrifice and sin-bearer, thou didst not ask:

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

Then, said I—Lo! I am come, In the written scroll, is it prescribed for me;

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

To do thy good-pleasure, O my God, is my delight, And, thy law, is in the midst of mine inward parts:

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 have told the good-tidings of righteousness in a great convocation, Lo! my lips, do I not restrain, O Yahweh, thou, knowest:

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 not hid in the midst of my heart, Thy faithfulness and thy salvation, have I spoken, I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truthfulness from the great convocation.

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

Thou, O Yahweh, wilt not restrain thy compassions from me, Thy lovingkindness and thy truthfulness, shall 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 there have closed in upon me, misfortunes beyond number, Mine iniquities have overtaken me, and I cannot see, They have become more 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 Yahweh, to rescue me, O Yahweh! to help me, make haste!

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.

Let them turn pale and then at once blush, who are seeking my life to snatch it away, —Let them draw back, and be confounded, who are taking pleasure in my calamity;

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

Let them be astonished on account of their own shame, who are saying of 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.

Let all them be glad and rejoice in thee, who are seekers of thee. Let them say continually—Yahweh be magnified! who are lovers of 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, I, being oppressed and needy, May My Lord devise for me, —My help and my deliverer, thou art! O my God, do not tarry!