< 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.
Unto the end. A Psalm of David himself. I have waited expectantly for the Lord, and he was attentive to me.
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:
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.
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 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.
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.
Blessed is the man whose hope is in the name of the Lord, and who has no respect for vanities and absurd falsehoods.
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.
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.
6 Sacrifice and oblation thou didst not desire: ears hast thou prepared me. Burnt-offering and sin-offering hast thou not demanded;
Sacrifice and oblation, you did not want. But you have perfected ears for me. Holocaust and sin offering, you did not require.
7 Then said I, Behold, I come, in the volume of the book it is written of me —
Then I said, “Behold, I draw near.” At the head of the book, it has been written of me:
8 To do thy good pleasure, my God, is my delight, and thy law is within my heart.
that I should do your will. My God, I have willed it. And your law is in the midst of my heart.
9 I have published righteousness in the great congregation: behold, I have not withheld my lips, Jehovah, thou knowest.
I have announced your justice in a great Church: behold, I will not restrain my lips. O Lord, you have known it.
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.
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.
11 Withhold not thou, Jehovah, thy tender mercies from me; let thy loving-kindness and thy truth continually preserve me.
O Lord, do not take your tender mercies far from me. Your mercy and your truth ever sustain me.
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 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.
13 Be pleased, O Jehovah, to deliver me; Jehovah, make haste to my help.
Be pleased, O Lord, to rescue me. Look down, O Lord, to help me.
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 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.
15 Let them be desolate, because of their shame, that say unto me, Aha! Aha!
Let them bear their confusion all at once, who say to me, “Well, well.”
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 who seek you exult and rejoice over you. And let those who love your salvation always say, “May the Lord be magnified.”
17 But I am afflicted and needy: the Lord thinketh upon me. Thou art my help and my deliverer: my God, make no delay.
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.