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

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:

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 Then put he, into my mouth, a new song, Praise to our God, —Many shall see and revere, And shall trust in Yahweh.

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

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

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

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, said I—Lo! I am come, In the written scroll, is it prescribed for me;

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

8 To do thy good-pleasure, O my God, is my delight, And, thy law, is in the midst of mine inward parts:

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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 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 Yahweh, to rescue me, O Yahweh! to help me, make haste!

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

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;

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.

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

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

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 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 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!

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