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 of David. I waited patiently for Yahweh; he listened 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 brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and he set my feet on a rock and made 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.

He has put a new song in my mouth, praise to our God. Many will see it and honor him and will trust in Yahweh.

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 Yahweh his trust and does not honor the proud or those who turn away from him 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, Yahweh my God, are the wonderful deeds that you have done, and your thoughts which are about us cannot be numbered; if I declared and spoke of them, they would be more than could be counted.

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

You have no delight in sacrifice or offering, but you have opened my ears; you have not required burnt offerings or sin offerings.

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 said I, “See, I have come; it is written about me in the scroll of the document.

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

I delight to do your will, my God; your laws are in 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 good news of your righteousness in the great assembly; Yahweh, you know that my lips have not kept back from doing this.

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 righteousness in my heart; I have declared your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your covenant faithfulness or your trustworthiness 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 keep back your acts of mercy from me, Yahweh; let your covenant faithfulness and your trustworthiness always 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!

Troubles that cannot be numbered surround me; my iniquities have caught up with me so that I am no longer able to see anything; they are more than the hairs on my head, and my heart has failed me.

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

Be pleased, Yahweh, to rescue me; hurry to help me, Yahweh.

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 ashamed and completely disappointed who pursue my life to take it away. Let them be turned back and brought to dishonor, those who delight in hurting me.

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

Let them be shocked because of their shame, those who say to 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!”

But may all those who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; let everyone who loves your salvation say continually, “May Yahweh be praised.”

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!

I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinks about me. You are my help and you come to my rescue; do not delay, my God.