1 Heb “O God, to rescue me.” A main verb is obviously missing. The verb רָצָה (ratsah, “be willing”) should be supplied (see Ps 40:13). Ps 40:13 uses the divine name “Lord” rather than “God.”
2 Heb “hurry to my help.” See Pss 22:19; 38:22.
3 Heb “may they be embarrassed and ashamed, the ones seeking my life.” Ps 40:14 has “together” after “ashamed,” and “to snatch it away” after “my life.”
4 The four prefixed verbal forms in this verse are understood as jussives. The psalmist is calling judgment down on his enemies. See Ps 35:4 for a similar prayer.
5 The prefixed verbal form is understood as a jussive in this imprecation.
6 Heb “May they be turned back according to their shame, those who say, ‘Aha! Aha!’ ” Ps 40:15 has the verb “humiliated” instead of “turned back” and adds “to me” after “say.”
7 Heb “those who love,” which stands metonymically for its cause, the experience of being delivered by God.
8 The three prefixed verbal forms prior to the quotation are understood as jussives. The psalmist balances out his imprecation against his enemies with a prayer of blessing on the godly.
9 Ps 40:16 uses the divine name “Lord” here instead of “God.”
10 The prefixed verbal form is taken as a jussive, “may the Lord be magnified [in praise].” Another option is to take the verb as an imperfect, “the Lord is great.” See Ps 35:27.
12 Ps 40:17 has “may the Lord pay attention to me.”
13 Ps 40:17 has “my God” instead of “Lord.”

Cross references

11 See Pss 35:10; 37:14.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Make haste, O God, to deliver me!

O Lord, make haste to help me!

Let them be put to shame and confusion

who seek my life!

Let them be turned back and brought to dishonor

who delight in my hurt!

Let them turn back because of their shame

who say, “Aha, Aha!”

May all who seek you

rejoice and be glad in you!

May those who love your salvation

say evermore, “God is great!”

But I am poor and needy;

hasten to me, O God!

You are my help and my deliverer;

O Lord, do not delay!

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Hasten, O God, to save me;

come quickly, Lord, to help me.

May those who want to take my life

be put to shame and confusion;

may all who desire my ruin

be turned back in disgrace.

May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!”

turn back because of their shame.

But may all who seek you

rejoice and be glad in you;

may those who long for your saving help always say,

“The Lord is great!”

But as for me, I am poor and needy;

come quickly to me, O God.

You are my help and my deliverer;

Lord, do not delay.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

God, hurry to rescue me.

Lord, hurry to help me!

Let those who seek to kill me

be disgraced and confounded;

let those who wish me harm

be turned back and humiliated.

Let those who say, “Aha, aha!”

retreat because of their shame.

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

let those who love your salvation

continually say, “God is great!”

I am oppressed and needy;

hurry to me, God.

You are my help and my deliverer;

Lord, do not delay.

NLTNew Living Translation

Please, God, rescue me!

Come quickly, Lord, and help me.

May those who try to kill me

be humiliated and put to shame.

May those who take delight in my trouble

be turned back in disgrace.

Let them be horrified by their shame,

for they said, “Aha! We’ve got him now!”

But may all who search for you

be filled with joy and gladness in you.

May those who love your salvation

repeatedly shout, “God is great!”

But as for me, I am poor and needy;

please hurry to my aid, O God.

You are my helper and my savior;

O Lord, do not delay.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

O God, make haste to deliver me.

O Yahweh, make haste to help me.

Let them be ashamed and abashed

who seek my life.

Let them be repulsed and humiliated

who desire my harm.

let them turn back because of their shame,

those who say, “Aha! Aha!”

Let them rejoice and be glad in you,

all those who seek you.

Let them say continually, “God is great!”

those who love your salvation.

But I am poor and needy;

O God hasten to me.

You are my help and my deliverer.

O Yahweh, do not delay.

KJV 1900King James Version

Make haste, O God, to deliver me;

Make haste to help me, O Lord.

Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my soul:

Let them be turned backward, and put to confusion, that desire my hurt.

Let them be turned back for a reward of their shame

That say, Aha, aha.

Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee:

And let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified.

But I am poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God:

Thou art my help and my deliverer;

O Lord, make no tarrying.

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