Psalms 40

1 “To the chief musician, a psalm of David.” I had waited patiently for the Lord, when he inclined himself unto me, and heard my cry.

For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. I waited patiently for Yahweh. He turned to me, and heard my cry.

2 And he brought me up out of the noiseful deep, out of the miry clay, and he set up my feet upon a rock, making firm my steps.

He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay. He set my feet on a rock, and gave me a firm place to stand.

3 And he placed in my mouth a new song, a praise unto our God: many will see it, and fear; and they will trust in the Lord.

He has put a new song in my mouth, even praise to our God. Many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in Yahweh.

4 Happy is the man that maketh the Lord his trust, and turneth not unto the proud, nor such as stray aside unto lies.

Blessed is the man who makes Yahweh his trust, and doesn’t respect the proud, nor such as turn away to lies.

5 Many things hast thou done, O Lord my God; thy wonderful deeds and thy thoughts toward us—there is none to be compared unto thee—will I tell and speak of, [though] they are too numerous to be counted.

Many, Yahweh, 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 counted.

6 Sacrifice and meat-offering thou desirest not—ears hast thou hollowed out unto me—burnt-offering and sin-offering thou demandest not.

Sacrifice and offering you didn’t desire. You have opened my ears. You have not required burnt offering and sin offering.

7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the roll of the book it is written down for me;

Then I said, “Behold, I have come. It is written about me in the book in the scroll.

8 To fulfill thy will, O my God, do I desire; and thy law is within my heart.

I delight to do your will, my God. Yes, your law is within my heart.”

9 I announce [thy] righteousness in the great assembly: lo, I will not refrain my lips, O Lord, thou well knowest it.

I have proclaimed glad news of righteousness in the great assembly. Behold, I will not seal my lips, Yahweh, you know.

10 Thy righteousness have I never hidden within my heart; thy faithfulness and thy salvation have I spoken of openly: I have not concealed thy kindness and thy truth before the great assembly.

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 Do thou, O Lord, not withhold thy mercies from me: let thy kindness and thy truth continually watch over me.

Don’t withhold your tender mercies from me, Yahweh. Let your loving kindness and your truth continually preserve me.

12 For evils without number have compassed me about; my iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to see: they are more numerous than the hairs of my head; and my courage hath forsaken me.

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 Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me; O Lord, hasten to my help.

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

14 May those be made ashamed and put to the blush together that seek after my soul to take her away: let them be driven backward and be confounded, that wish for my mishap.

Let them be disappointed 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 astonished in consequence of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha!

Let them be desolate by reason of their shame that tell me, “Aha! Aha!”

16 [But] may all those that seek thee be glad and rejoice in thee: may they say continually, The Lord be magnified, —those that love thy salvation.

Let all those who seek you rejoice and be glad in you. Let such as love your salvation say continually, “Let Yahweh be exalted!”

17 But though I be poor and needy, the Lord will think of me: my help and my deliverer art thou: O my God, delay not.

But I am poor and needy. May the Lord think about me. You are my help and my deliverer. Don’t delay, my God.