Psalms 40

1 To the chief Musician. Of David. A Psalm. I waited patiently for Jehovah; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

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.

2 And he brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock; he hath established my goings:

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.

3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, praise unto our God. Many shall see it, and fear, and shall confide in Jehovah.

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.

4 Blessed is the man that hath made Jehovah his confidence, and turneth not to the proud, and to such as turn aside to lies.

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.

5 Thou, O Jehovah my God, hast multiplied thy marvellous works, and thy thoughts toward us: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee; would I declare and speak [them], they are more than can be numbered.

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.

6 Sacrifice and oblation thou didst not desire: ears hast thou prepared me. Burnt-offering and sin-offering hast thou not demanded;

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.

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

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

8 To do thy good pleasure, my God, is my delight, and thy law is within my heart.

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

9 I have published righteousness in the great congregation: behold, I have not withheld my lips, Jehovah, thou knowest.

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

10 I have not hidden thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy loving-kindness and thy truth from the great congregation.

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.

11 Withhold not thou, Jehovah, thy tender mercies from me; let thy loving-kindness and thy truth continually preserve me.

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

12 For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I cannot see; they are more than the hairs of my head: and my heart hath failed me.

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.

13 Be pleased, O Jehovah, to deliver me; Jehovah, make haste to my help.

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

14 Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be turned backward and confounded that take pleasure in mine adversity;

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.

15 Let them be desolate, because of their shame, that say unto me, Aha! Aha!

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

16 Let all those that seek thee be glad and rejoice in thee; let such as love thy salvation say continually, Jehovah be magnified!

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.

17 But I am afflicted and needy: the Lord thinketh upon me. Thou art my help and my deliverer: my God, make no delay.

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.