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;
I waited patiently for Yahweh [to help me], and he listened to me [DOU] when I called out to him.
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:
[When I had many troubles, it was as though] I was in a deep pit. But he lifted me up out of the mud and slime of that pit; he set my feet on a [solid] rock, and enabled me to walk (safely/without falling).
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 has given me a new song to sing, a song to praise him who is our God. Many people will find out [what he has done for me], and they will revere and trust him.
4 How happy the man, Who hath made Yahweh his confidence, who hath not turned unto the haughty, nor gone aside unto falsehood.
Yahweh is pleased with those who trust him, those who do not trust in idols or join with those who worship those false gods.
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.
O Yahweh, my God, you have done many wonderful things! No one can list all the wonderful things that you have planned for us. If I tried to tell [others] about all those wonderful things, I would not be able to, because there would be too many for me to mention.
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:
Various kinds of sacrifices and other offerings are not the [only] things that delight you. You have enabled me to understand that very well [IDM]. [Animals] burned [on the altar] and [other] offerings are not all that you require [for sins to be forgiven].
7 Then, said I—Lo! I am come, In the written scroll, is it prescribed for me;
So I said [to you], “Yahweh, here I am, [to do] the things that have been written in the scroll [that contains your laws], things that you want me [to do].”
8 To do thy good-pleasure, O my God, is my delight, And, thy law, is in the midst of mine inward parts:
O my God, I delight to do what you desire; I [keep] your laws within my inner being.
9 I have told the good-tidings of righteousness in a great convocation, Lo! my lips, do I not restrain, O Yahweh, thou, knowest:
Whenever all [your people] are gathered, I have told them about how you save us. Yahweh, you know that I have not been afraid to tell that to them.
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.
And I have not kept to myself the news that you always act justly/fairly; when many of your people have gathered together [to worship you in the temple], I have told them that you are faithful to us and save us. I have (not concealed/openly told people) that you faithfully love us and act loyally toward us.
11 Thou, O Yahweh, wilt not restrain thy compassions from me, Thy lovingkindness and thy truthfulness, shall continually watch over me.
Yahweh, do not stop being merciful to me. Because you faithfully love [me] [PRS] and are loyal [to me], always protect me.
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!
I have many troubles; [so many that] I cannot count them. My sins are like a flood that has covered me [PRS, MET]; [they are so many that] I cannot find my way. The sins that I have committed are more than the hairs on my head. I am very discouraged.
13 Be pleased, O Yahweh, to rescue me, O Yahweh! to help me, make haste!
O Yahweh, please save me! Come quickly to 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;
Humble those who are happy about my troubles, and cause them to be disgraced and ashamed. Chase away those who are trying to get rid of me.
15 Let them be astonished on account of their own shame, who are saying of me, Aha! Aha!
I hope/desire that those who make fun of me will be dismayed when you defeat them.
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 I hope that all those who go to [worship] you will be very joyful [DOU]. I want those who love you because you saved them to shout repeatedly, “Yahweh 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 [DOU]; but [I know that] Yahweh has not forgotten me. O my God, you are the one who saves and helps me, so please come quickly [and help me!]
