Psalms 40

1 To the Overseer. — A Psalm of David. I have diligently expected Jehovah, And He inclineth to me, and heareth my cry,

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 And He doth cause me to come up From a pit of desolation — from mire of mud, And He raiseth up on a rock my feet, He is establishing 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 And He putteth in my mouth a new song, 'Praise to our God.' Many do see and fear, and trust in Jehovah.

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 O the happiness of the man Who hath made Jehovah his trust, And hath not turned unto the proud, And those turning aside to lies.

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

5 Much hast Thou done, Jehovah my God; Thy wonders and Thy thoughts toward us, There is none to arrange unto Thee, I declare and speak: They have been more than to be numbered.

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 present Thou hast not desired, Ears Thou hast prepared for me, Burnt and sin-offering Thou hast not asked.

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 have come,' In the roll of the book it is written of 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 pleasure, my God, I have delighted, And Thy law [is] within my heart.

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

9 I have proclaimed tidings of righteousness In the great assembly, lo, my lips I restrain not, O Jehovah, Thou hast known.

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

10 Thy righteousness I have not concealed In the midst of my heart, Thy faithfulness and Thy salvation I have told, I have not hidden Thy kindness and Thy truth, To the great assembly.

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 Jehovah, restrainest not Thy mercies from me, Thy kindness and Thy truth do continually keep me.

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

12 For compassed me have evils innumerable, Overtaken me have mine iniquities, And I have not been able to see; They have been more than the hairs of my head, And my heart 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 Jehovah, to deliver me, O Jehovah, for my help make haste.

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

14 They are ashamed and confounded together, Who are seeking my soul to destroy it, They are turned backward, And are ashamed, who are desiring my evil.

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

15 They are desolate because of their shame, Who are saying to me, 'Aha, aha.'

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

16 All seeking Thee rejoice and are glad in Thee, Those loving Thy salvation say continually, 'Jehovah is magnified.'

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

17 And I [am] poor and needy, The Lord doth devise for me. My help and my deliverer [art] Thou, O my God, tarry Thou not.

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