Psalms 40

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

For the chief musician. A psalm of David. I waited patiently for Yahweh; he listened to me and heard my cry.

2 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.

He brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and he set my feet on a rock and made my steps secure.

3 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.

He has put a new song in my mouth, praise to our God. Many will see it and honor him and will trust in Yahweh.

4 Happy the person who has put in the Lord their trust, not looking to false gods or turning to idols.

Blessed is the man who makes Yahweh his trust and does not honor the proud or those who turn away from him to lies.

5 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.

Many, Yahweh my God, are the wonderful deeds that you have done, and your thoughts which are about us cannot be numbered; if I declared and spoke of them, they would be more than could be counted.

6 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.

You have no delight in sacrifice or offering, but you have opened my ears; you have not required burnt offerings or sin offerings.

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

Then said I, “See, I have come; it is written about me in the scroll of the document.

8 My delight, O God, is to do your will, and your law is within my heart.”

I delight to do your will, my God; your laws are in my heart.”

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

I have proclaimed good news of your righteousness in the great assembly; Yahweh, you know that my lips have not kept back from doing this.

10 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.

I have not concealed your righteousness in my heart; I have declared your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your covenant faithfulness or your trustworthiness from the great assembly.

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

Do not keep back your acts of mercy from me, Yahweh; let your covenant faithfulness and your trustworthiness always preserve me.

12 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.

Troubles that cannot be numbered surround me; my iniquities have caught up with me so that I am no longer able to see anything; they are more than the hairs on my head, and my heart has failed me.

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

Be pleased, Yahweh, to rescue me; hurry to help me, Yahweh.

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

Let them be ashamed and completely disappointed who pursue my life to take it away. Let them be turned back and brought to dishonor, those who delight in hurting me.

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

Let them be shocked because of their shame, those who say to me, “Aha, aha!”

16 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.

But may all those who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; let everyone who loves your salvation say continually, “May Yahweh be praised.”

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

I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinks about me. You are my help and you come to my rescue; do not delay, my God.