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 leader. A psalm of David. For the Lord I waited and waited, till, inclining to me, he heard 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.

From the horrible pit he drew me, up out of the miry clay; he set my feet on a rock, and my steps he made firm.

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

He put a new song in my mouth, of praise to our God. Many see it, and, filled with awe, put their trust 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 the person who has put in the Lord their trust, not looking to false gods or turning to 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.

With us you have wrought in rich measure, O Lord our God, your marvels and purposes for us – none may compare with you – were I to declare or to tell them, past counting are they.

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

In offerings bloody or bloodless you have no delight, but with open ears you have made me. Burnt-offering and offering for sin are not what you ask.

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

Then said I, ‘Here I am, as the roll of the book has enjoined.

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

My delight, O God, is to do your will, and your law is within 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.

Well, O Lord, you know that, with lips unrestrained, your righteousness I told in the great congregation,

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.

not hiding it in my heart. I have told of your steadfast help, from the great congregation I hid not your love and your faithfulness.

11 You, O YHWH, do not restrain Your mercies from me, Your kindness and Your truth continually keep me.

So do not restrain, Lord, your pity from us. Your love and your faithfulness – ever may they be our shield.

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 evils that cannot be numbered have compassed me round. My transgressions have followed me up – I can bear it no more. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart has forsaken me.

13 Be pleased, O YHWH, to deliver me, O YHWH, make haste for my help.

O Lord, be pleased to deliver me, haste to my help, O Lord.

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.

May those who are seeking my life be ashamed and confounded together; may those who delight in my hurt be defeated and brought to dishonour.

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

May those who hurrah over me be dumbfounded because of their shame.

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

But may all who seek after you rejoice and be glad in you. May all those eager for your aid, say, ‘Great is the Lord’ evermore.

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.

I am weak and needy, yet the Lord cares for me. You are my help and deliverer; don’t delay, my God.