Psalms 40

1 Unto the end. A Psalm of David himself. I have waited expectantly for the Lord, and he was attentive to me.

For the Leader. A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the LORD; and He inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

2 And he heard my prayers and he led me out of the pit of misery and the quagmire. And he stationed my feet upon a rock, and he directed my steps.

He brought me up also out of the tumultuous pit, out of the miry clay; and He set my feet upon a rock, He established my goings.

3 And he sent a new canticle into my mouth, a song to our God. Many will see, and they will fear; and they will hope in the Lord.

And He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God; many shall see, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.

4 Blessed is the man whose hope is in the name of the Lord, and who has no respect for vanities and absurd falsehoods.

Happy is the man that hath made the LORD his trust, and hath not turned unto the arrogant, nor unto such as fall away treacherously.

5 You have accomplished your many wonders, O Lord my God, and there is no one similar to you in your thoughts. I have announced and I have spoken: they are multiplied beyond number.

Many things hast Thou done, O LORD my God, even Thy wonderful works, and Thy thoughts toward us; there is none to be compared unto Thee! If I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be told.

6 Sacrifice and oblation, you did not want. But you have perfected ears for me. Holocaust and sin offering, you did not require.

Sacrifice and meal-offering Thou hast no delight in; mine ears hast Thou opened; burnt-offering and sin-offering hast Thou not required.

7 Then I said, “Behold, I draw near.” At the head of the book, it has been written of me:

Then said I: 'Lo, I am come with the roll of a book which is prescribed for me;

8 that I should do your will. My God, I have willed it. And your law is in the midst of my heart.

I delight to do Thy will, O my God; yea, Thy law is in my inmost parts.'

9 I have announced your justice in a great Church: behold, I will not restrain my lips. O Lord, you have known it.

I have preached righteousness in the great congregation, lo, I did not refrain my lips; O LORD, Thou knowest.

10 I have not concealed your justice within my heart. I have spoken your truth and your salvation. I have not concealed your mercy and your truth from a great assembly.

I have not hid Thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared Thy faithfulness and Thy salvation; I have not concealed Thy mercy and Thy truth from the great congregation.

11 O Lord, do not take your tender mercies far from me. Your mercy and your truth ever sustain me.

Thou, O LORD, wilt not withhold Thy compassions from me; let Thy mercy and Thy truth continually preserve me.

12 For evils without number have surrounded me. My iniquities have taken hold of me, and I was not able to see. They have been multiplied beyond the hairs of my head. And my heart has forsaken me.

For innumerable evils have compassed me about, mine iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart hath failed me.

13 Be pleased, O Lord, to rescue me. Look down, O Lord, to help me.

Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me; O LORD, make haste to help me.

14 Let them together be confounded and awed, who seek after my soul to steal it away. Let them be turned back and be in awe, who wish evils upon me.

Let them be ashamed and abashed together that seek after my soul to sweep it away; let them be turned backward and brought to confusion that delight in my hurt.

15 Let them bear their confusion all at once, who say to me, “Well, well.”

Let them be appalled by reason of their shame that say unto me: 'Aha, aha.'

16 Let all who seek you exult and rejoice over you. And let those who love your salvation always say, “May the Lord be magnified.”

Let all those that seek Thee rejoice and be glad in Thee; let such as love Thy salvation say continually: 'The LORD be magnified.'

17 But I am a beggar and poor. The Lord has been concerned about me. You are my helper and my protector. My God, do not delay.

But, as for me, that am poor and needy, the Lord will account it unto me; Thou art my help and my deliverer; O my God, tarry not.