Psalms 40

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

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

2 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.

[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 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.

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

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 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.

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

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

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

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

9 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.

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 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.

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

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

12 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.

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

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

14 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.

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

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

16 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.”

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 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.

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!]