Psalms 40

Psalm 40

Thanksgiving for Deliverance and Prayer for Help

1I waited patiently for the Lord ;[#Ps 27.14; 34.15]

he inclined to me and heard my cry.

2He drew me up from the desolate pit,[#Ps 27.5; 69.2; #40.2 Cn: Heb pit of tumult]

out of the miry bog,

and set my feet upon a rock,

making my steps secure.

3He put a new song in my mouth,[#Ps 33.3]

a song of praise to our God.

Many will see and fear

and put their trust in the Lord .

4Happy are those who make[#Ps 84.12]

the Lord their trust,

who do not turn to the proud,

to those who go astray after false gods.

5You have multiplied, O Lord my God,[#Ps 136.4; 139.18; Isa 55.8]

your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us;

none can compare with you.

Were I to proclaim and tell of them,

they would be more than can be counted.

6Sacrifice and offering you do not desire,[#1 Sam 15.22]

but you have given me an open ear.

Burnt offering and sin offering

you have not required.

7Then I said, “Here I am;

in the scroll of the book it is written of me.

8I delight to do your will, O my God;[#Ps 37.31; Jn 4.34; Rom 7.22]

your law is within my heart.”

9I have told the glad news of deliverance[#Ps 22.22; 119.13]

in the great congregation;

see, I have not restrained my lips,

as you know, O Lord .

10I have not hidden your saving help within my heart;[#Ps 89.1; Acts 20.20]

I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation;

I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness

from the great congregation.

11Do not, O Lord , withhold[#Ps 43.3]

your mercy from me;

let your steadfast love and your faithfulness

keep me safe forever.

12For evils have encompassed me[#Ps 38.4; 69.4; 73.26; 116.3]

without number;

my iniquities have overtaken me

until I cannot see;

they are more than the hairs of my head,

and my heart fails me.

13Be pleased, O Lord , to deliver me;[#Ps 70.1]

O Lord , make haste to help me.

14Let all those be put to shame and confusion[#Ps 35.4; 63.9]

who seek to snatch away my life;

let those be turned back and brought to dishonor

who desire my hurt.

15Let those be appalled because of their shame[#Ps 70.3]

who say to me, “Aha, Aha!”

16But may all who seek you[#Ps 35.27; 70.4]

rejoice and be glad in you;

may those who love your salvation

say continually, “Great is the Lord !”

17As for me, I am poor and needy,[#Ps 70.5]

but the Lord takes thought for me.

You are my help and my deliverer;

do not delay, O my God.

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition, copyright © 2021 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Published by: National Council of the Churches of Christ