Psalm 40

Psalm 40

THANKSGIVING AND A CRY FOR HELP

For the choir director. A psalm of David.

¹I waited patiently for the Lord,

and he turned to me and heard my cry for help.^o

²He brought me up from a desolate^A pit,

out of the muddy clay,^p

and set my feet on a rock,

making my steps secure.^q

³He put a new song in my mouth,

a hymn of praise to our God.^r

Many will see and fear,

and they will trust in the Lord.^s

⁴How happy is anyone

who has put his trust in the Lord

and has not turned to the proud

or to those who run after lies!^t

⁵Lord my God, you have done many things—

your wondrous works and your plans for us;

none can compare with you.

If I were to report and speak of them,

they are more than can be told.^u

⁶You do not delight in sacrifice and offering;

you open my ears to listen.^B

You do not ask for a whole burnt offering or a sin offering.^v

⁷Then I said, “See, I have come;

in the scroll it is written about me.^w

⁸I delight to do your will, my God,^x

and your instruction is deep within me.”^y

⁹I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly;

see, I do not keep my mouth closed^C—

as you know, Lord.^z

¹⁰I did not hide your righteousness in my heart;

I spoke about your faithfulness and salvation;

I did not conceal your constant love and truth

from the great assembly.^aa

¹¹Lord, you do not^D withhold your compassion from me.

Your constant love and truth will always guard me.^ab

¹²For troubles without number have surrounded me;

my iniquities have overtaken me; I am unable to see.

They are more than the hairs of my head,

and my courage leaves me.^a

¹³Lord, be pleased to rescue me;

hurry to help me, Lord.^b

¹⁴Let those who intend to take my life

be disgraced and confounded.

Let those who wish me harm

be turned back and humiliated.^c

¹⁵Let those who say to me, “Aha, aha!”

be appalled because of their shame.^d

¹⁶Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you;

let those who love your salvation continually say,

“The Lord is great!”^e

¹⁷I am oppressed and needy;

may the Lord think of me.

You are my helper and my deliverer;

my God, do not delay.^f