Psalms 40

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

I waited patiently for Yahweh [to help me], and he listened to me [DOU] when I called out to him.

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.

[When I had many troubles, it was as though] I was in a deep pit. But he lifted me up out of the mud and slime of that pit; he set my feet on a [solid] rock, and enabled me to walk (safely/without falling).

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.

He has given me a new song to sing, a song to praise him who is our God. Many people will find out [what he has done for me], and they will revere and trust him.

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

Yahweh is pleased with those who trust him, those who do not trust in idols or join with those who worship those false gods.

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.

O Yahweh, my God, you have done many wonderful things! No one can list all the wonderful things that you have planned for us. If I tried to tell [others] about all those wonderful things, I would not be able to, because there would be too many for me to mention.

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

Various kinds of sacrifices and other offerings are not the [only] things that delight you. You have enabled me to understand that very well [IDM]. [Animals] burned [on the altar] and [other] offerings are not all that you require [for sins to be forgiven].

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

So I said [to you], “Yahweh, here I am, [to do] the things that have been written in the scroll [that contains your laws], things that you want me [to do].”

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

O my God, I delight to do what you desire; I [keep] your laws within my inner being.

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

Whenever all [your people] are gathered, I have told them about how you save us. Yahweh, you know that I have not been afraid to tell that to them.

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.

And I have not kept to myself the news that you always act justly/fairly; when many of your people have gathered together [to worship you in the temple], I have told them that you are faithful to us and save us. I have (not concealed/openly told people) that you faithfully love us and act loyally toward us.

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

Yahweh, do not stop being merciful to me. Because you faithfully love [me] [PRS] and are loyal [to me], always protect 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.

I have many troubles; [so many that] I cannot count them. My sins are like a flood that has covered me [PRS, MET]; [they are so many that] I cannot find my way. The sins that I have committed are more than the hairs on my head. I am very discouraged.

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

O Yahweh, please save me! Come quickly 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.

Humble those who are happy about my troubles, and cause them to be disgraced and ashamed. Chase away those who are trying to get rid of me.

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

I hope/desire that those who make fun of me will be dismayed when you defeat them.

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.”

But I hope that all those who go to [worship] you will be very joyful [DOU]. I want those who love you because you saved them to shout repeatedly, “Yahweh is great!”

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.

As for me, I am poor and needy [DOU]; but [I know that] Yahweh has not forgotten me. O my God, you are the one who saves and helps me, so please come quickly [and help me!]