Psalms 40

1 TO THE OVERSEER. A PSALM OF DAVID. I have diligently expected YHWH, And He inclines to me, and hears 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 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 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 puts a new song in my mouth, “Praise to our God.” Many see and fear, and trust in YHWH.

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

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.

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

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 I said, “Behold, I have come, In the roll of the scroll 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 have delighted to do Your pleasure, my God, And Your law [is] within my heart.”

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

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

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.

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 You, O YHWH, do not restrain Your mercies from me, Your kindness and Your truth continually keep 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 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 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 YHWH, to deliver me, O YHWH, make haste for my help.

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

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.

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

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

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

16 All seeking You rejoice and are glad in You, Those loving Your salvation continually say, “YHWH is 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 And I [am] poor and needy, The Lord devises for me. You [are] my help and my deliverer, O my God, do not linger.

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