Psalms 40

1 I waited patiently for Yahweh [to help me], and he listened to me [DOU] when I called out to him.

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the LORD; He inclined to me and heard my cry.

2 [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).

He lifted me up from the pit of despair, out of the miry clay; He set my feet upon a rock, and made my footsteps firm.

3 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.

He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.

4 Yahweh is pleased with those who trust him, those who do not trust in idols or join with those who worship those false gods.

Blessed is the man who has made the LORD his trust, who has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood.

5 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.

Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders You have done, and the plans You have for us— none can compare to You— if I proclaim and declare them, they are more than I can count.

6 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].

Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but my ears You have opened. Burnt offerings and sin offerings You did not require.

7 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].”

Then I said, “Here I am, I have come— it is written about me in the scroll:

8 O my God, I delight to do what you desire; I [keep] your laws within my inner being.

I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your law is within my heart.”

9 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.

I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly; behold, I do not seal my lips, as You, O LORD, do know.

10 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.

I have not covered up Your righteousness in my heart; I have declared Your faithfulness and salvation; I have not concealed Your loving devotion and faithfulness from the great assembly.

11 Yahweh, do not stop being merciful to me. Because you faithfully love [me] [PRS] and are loyal [to me], always protect me.

O LORD, do not withhold Your mercy from me; Your loving devotion and faithfulness will always guard me.

12 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.

For evils without number surround me; my sins have overtaken me, so that I cannot see. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart has failed within me.

13 O Yahweh, please save me! Come quickly to help me!

Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me; hurry, O LORD, to help me.

14 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.

May those who seek my life be ashamed and confounded; may those who wish me harm be repelled and humiliated.

15 I hope/desire that those who make fun of me will be dismayed when you defeat them.

May those who say to me, “Aha, aha!” be appalled at their own shame.

16 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!”

May all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; may those who love Your salvation always say, “The LORD be magnified!”

17 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!]

But I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my helper and deliverer; O my God, do not delay.