Psalms 40

1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

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.

2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, [and] established my goings.

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.

3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, [even] praise unto our God: many shall see [it], and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.

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.

4 Blessed [is] that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.

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

5 Many, O LORD my God, [are] thy wonderful works [which] thou hast done, and thy thoughts [which are] to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: [if] I would declare and speak [of them], they are more than can be numbered.

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.

6 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.

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

7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book [it is] written of me,

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

8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law [is] within my heart.

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

9 I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest.

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

10 I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.

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.

11 Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.

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

12 For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me.

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!

13 Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me.

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

14 Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil.

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

15 Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha.

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

16 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified.

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

17 But I [am] poor and needy; [yet] the Lord thinketh upon me: thou [art] my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.

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