Psalms 40

1 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.

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

2 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.

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 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.

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

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

5 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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.

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

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

12 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!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.