Psalms 40

1 For the end, a Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the Lord; and he attended to me, and listened to my supplication.

For the music director. A psalm of David. I waited for the Lord patiently, and he turned to me—he heard my cry for help.

2 And he brought me up out of a pit of misery, and from miry clay: and he set my feet on a rock, and ordered my goings aright.

He pulled me out of the pit of destruction, out from the mud and the slime. He set me on a rock, and gave me a safe place to stand.

3 And he put a new song into my mouth, [even] a hymn to our God: many shall see [it], and fear, and shall hope in the Lord.

He gave me a new song to sing, a song of praise to our God. Many people will see and be in awe, and they will put their trust in him.

4 Blessed [is] the man whose hope is in the name of the Lord, and [who] has not regarded vanities and false frenzies.

Happy are those who trust in the Lord, who do not look for help from the arrogant or from those who worship idols.

5 O Lord my God, you have multiplied your wonderful works, and in your thoughts there is none who shall be likened to you: I declared and spoke [of them]: they exceeded number.

Lord my God, you have done so many wonderful things for us, and you have so many plans for us. No one compares to you. I want to tell all that you've done—blessings too many to count.

6 Sacrifice and offering you would not; but a body have you prepared me: whole burnt offering and [sacrifice] for sin you did not require.

You don't want sacrifices and offerings. Now you have helped me understand—you're not asking for burnt offerings or sin offerings.

7 Then I said, Behold, I come: in the volume of the book it is written concerning me,

Then I said, “Look! Here I am! I've come to do what is written about me in the scroll of the Book.

8 I desired to do your will, O my God, and your law in the midst of mine heart.

I am pleased to do your will, my God—your Law guides my mind.”

9 I have preached righteousness in the great congregation; behold! I will not refrain my lips; O Lord, you know my righteousness.

I have announced the good news of salvation to the whole congregation. I don't keep quiet, Lord, as you know.

10 I have not hid your truth within my heart, and I have declared your salvation; I have not hid your mercy and your truth from the great congregation.

I have not kept the truth of your goodness hidden inside me—I have spoken of your trustworthiness and your salvation. I have not concealed your unfailing love and your faithfulness from the whole congregation.

11 But you, Lord, remove not your compassion far from me; your mercy and your truth have helped me continually.

Lord, please don't keep back your mercy from me. May your trustworthy love and faithfulness always be my protection.

12 For innumerable evils have encompassed me; my transgressions have taken hold of me, and I could not see; they are multiplied more than the hairs of my head; and my heart has failed me.

For I'm experiencing so many problems—I can't even count them! My sins have piled up so high I can't see over them. They're more than the number of hairs on my head! I feel like giving up!

13 Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me; O Lord, draw near to help me.

Lord, please save me! Hurry, Lord, help me!

14 Let those that seek my soul, to destroy it, be ashamed and confounded together; let those that wish me evil be turned backward and put to shame.

Please defeat and humiliate the people who are trying to kill me; turn back in disgrace those who want to hurt me.

15 Let those that say to me, Aha, aha, quickly receive shame for their reward.

May they be shocked at their defeat, those who taunted me.

16 Let all those that seek you, O Lord, exult and rejoice in you; and let them that love your salvation say continually, The Lord be magnified.

But may everyone who comes to you be happy and glad; may those who love your salvation always say, “The Lord is great!”

17 But I am poor and needy; the Lord will take care of me; you are my helper, and my defender, O my God, delay not.

As for me, I am poor and needy. May the Lord think about me. Help me! Save me! My God, please don't wait!