Psalms 40

1 TO THE OVERSEER. A PSALM OF DAVID. I have diligently expected YHWH, And He inclines to me, and hears 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 And He causes me to come up From a pit of desolation—from mire of mud, And He raises up my feet on a rock, He is establishing my steps.

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 puts a new song in my mouth, “Praise to our God.” Many see and fear, and trust in YHWH.

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 O the blessedness of the man Who has made YHWH his trust, And has not turned to the proud, And those turning aside to lies.

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 You have done much, my God YHWH; Your wonders and Your thoughts toward us, There is none to arrange to You, I declare and speak: They have been more than to be numbered.

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 present You have not desired, But a body You have prepared for me, Burnt and sin-offering You have not asked.

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 I said, “Behold, I have come, In the roll of the scroll it is written of me,

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

8 I have delighted to do Your pleasure, my God, And Your law [is] within my heart.”

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

9 I have proclaimed tidings of righteousness In the great assembly, Behold, I do not restrain my lips, O YHWH, You have known.

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 have not concealed Your righteousness In the midst of my heart, I have told of Your faithfulness and Your salvation, I have not hidden Your kindness and Your truth, To the great assembly.

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 You, O YHWH, do not restrain Your mercies from me, Your kindness and Your truth continually keep 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 evils have surrounded me, My iniquities have overtaken me, And I have not been able to see; They have been more than the hairs of my head, And my heart has forsaken 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 Be pleased, O YHWH, to deliver me, O YHWH, make haste for my help.

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

14 They are ashamed and confounded together, Who are seeking my soul to destroy it, They are turned backward, And are ashamed, who are desiring my evil.

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 They are desolate because of their shame, Who are saying to me, “Aha, aha.”

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

16 All seeking You rejoice and are glad in You, Those loving Your salvation continually say, “YHWH is magnified.”

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 And I [am] poor and needy, The Lord devises for me. You [are] my help and my deliverer, O my God, do not linger.

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.