Psalms 40

1 To him that excelleth. A Psalme of David. I Waited paciently for the Lord, and he inclined vnto 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 Hee brought mee also out of the horrible pit, out of the myrie clay, and set my feete vpon the rocke, and ordered 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 in my mouth a new song of praise vnto our God: many shall see it and feare, and shall trust in the Lord.

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 maketh the Lord his trust, and regardeth not the proude, nor such as turne aside to lyes.

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 O Lord my God, thou hast made thy wonderfull workes so many, that none can count in order to thee thy thoughts toward vs: I would declare, and speake of them, but they are moe then I am able to expresse.

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 offering thou didest not desire: (for mine eares hast thou prepared) burnt offring and sinne offering hast thou not required.

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, Lo, I come: for in the rolle of the booke it is written of me,

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

8 I desired to doe thy good will, O my God: yea, thy Lawe is within mine heart.

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

9 I haue declared thy righteousnesse in the great Congregation: loe, I will not refraine my lippes: O Lord, 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 haue not hidde thy righteousnesse within mine heart, but I haue declared thy trueth and thy saluation: I haue not conceiled thy mercy and thy trueth 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 Withdrawe not thou thy tender mercie from mee, O Lord: let thy mercie and thy trueth alway preserue 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 troubles haue compassed mee: my sinnes haue taken such holde vpon me, that I am not able to looke vp: yea, they are moe in nomber then the heares of mine head: therefore mine 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 Let it please thee, O Lord, to deliuer mee: make haste, O Lord, to helpe me.

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

14 Let them be confounded and put to shame together, that seeke my soule to destroye it: let them be driuen backward and put to rebuke, that desire mine hurt.

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 destroyed for a rewarde of their shame, which say vnto me, Aha, aha.

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

16 Let all them, that seeke thee, reioyce and be glad in thee: and let them, that loue thy saluation, say alway, The Lord be praysed.

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 Though I be poore and needie, the Lord thinketh on mee: thou art mine helper and my deliuerer: my God, make no tarying.

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.