Psalms 40

1 To the Chief Musician. David’s. A Melody. I waited patiently for Yahweh, —And he inclined, unto me, and heard my cry for help;

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 So he brought me up, Out of the destroying pit, Out of the swampy mire, —And set, upon a cliff, my feet, Making firm 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 Then put he, into my mouth, a new song, Praise to our God, —Many shall see and revere, And shall trust in Yahweh.

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 How happy the man, Who hath made Yahweh his confidence, who hath not turned unto the haughty, nor gone aside unto falsehood.

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

5 Mighty things, hast thou done—Thou, Yahweh my God, Thy wonderful doings and thy purposes towards us, There is no setting them in order unto thee—I would tell, and would speak!—They are too great to rehearse.

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 meal-offering, thou didst not delight in, Ears, didst thou pierce for me, —Ascending-sacrifice and sin-bearer, thou didst not ask:

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, said I—Lo! I am come, In the written scroll, is it prescribed for 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 To do thy good-pleasure, O my God, is my delight, And, thy law, is in the midst of mine inward parts:

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

9 I have told the good-tidings of righteousness in a great convocation, Lo! my lips, do I not restrain, O Yahweh, thou, knowest:

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

10 Thy righteousness, have I not hid in the midst of my heart, Thy faithfulness and thy salvation, have I spoken, I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truthfulness from the great convocation.

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 Thou, O Yahweh, wilt not restrain thy compassions from me, Thy lovingkindness and thy truthfulness, shall continually watch over me.

Lord, please don't keep back your mercy from me. May your trustworthy love and faithfulness always be my protection.

12 For there have closed in upon me, misfortunes beyond number, Mine iniquities have overtaken me, and I cannot see, They have become more than the hairs of my head, And, my courage, hath 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 Yahweh, to rescue me, O Yahweh! to help me, make haste!

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

14 Let them turn pale and then at once blush, who are seeking my life to snatch it away, —Let them draw back, and be confounded, who are taking pleasure in my calamity;

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

15 Let them be astonished on account of their own shame, who are saying of me, Aha! Aha!

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

16 Let all them be glad and rejoice in thee, who are seekers of thee. Let them say continually—Yahweh be magnified! who are lovers of thy salvation.

But may everyone who comes to you be happy and glad; may those who love your salvation always say, “The Lord is great!”

17 But, I, being oppressed and needy, May My Lord devise for me, —My help and my deliverer, thou art! O my God, do not tarry!

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