< 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.
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.
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.
4 Happy is the man that maketh the Lord his trust, and turneth not unto the proud, nor such as stray aside unto 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.
6 Sacrifice and meat-offering thou desirest not—ears hast thou hollowed out unto me—burnt-offering and sin-offering thou demandest not.
7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the roll of the book it is written down for me;
8 To fulfill thy will, O my God, do I desire; and thy 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.
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.
11 Do thou, O Lord, not withhold thy mercies from me: let thy kindness and thy truth continually watch over 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.
13 Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me; O Lord, hasten to my help.
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.
15 May they be astonished in consequence of their shame that say unto 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.
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.