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.

[For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David.] I waited patiently for the LORD, and he turned to me, and heard my cry.

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.

He also brought me up out of a pit of tumult, out of the miry clay; and he set my feet on a rock, making my steps secure.

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 has put a new song in my mouth, even praise to our God. Many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust 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 who makes the LORD his trust, and doesn't respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.

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.

Many, LORD, my God, are the wonderful works which you have done, and your thoughts which are toward us. They can't be declared back to you. If I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.

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 offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me. Whole burnt offering 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, "Look, I have come. It is written about me in the scroll of a book;

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

to do your will, O God, I desired. And your Law is within 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 proclaimed glad news of righteousness in the great assembly. Look, I will not seal my lips, LORD, you know.

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 hidden your righteousness within my heart. I have declared your faithfulness and your salvation. I have not concealed your loving kindness and your truth from the great assembly.

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

Do not withhold your tender mercies from me, LORD. Let your loving kindness and your truth continually preserve 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 innumerable evils have surrounded me. My iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to look up. They are more than the hairs of my head. My heart has failed me.

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

Be pleased, LORD, to deliver me. Hurry to help me, LORD.

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 be put to shame and confounded together who seek after my soul to destroy it. Let them be turned backward and brought to dishonor who delight in my hurt.

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

Let them be desolate by reason of their shame that tell me, "Aha. Aha."

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 those who seek you rejoice and be glad in you. Let such as love your salvation say continually, "Let the LORD be exalted."

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 poor and needy. May the LORD think about me. You are my help and my deliverer. Do not delay, my God.