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To the director: A song of David.

40 I called[a] to the Lord, and he heard me.
    He heard my cries.
He lifted me out of the grave.[b]
    He lifted me from that muddy place.[c]
He picked me up, put me on solid ground,
    and kept my feet from slipping.
He put a new song[d] in my mouth,
    a song of praise to our God.
Many will see what he did and worship him.
    They will put their trust in the Lord.
Great blessings belong to those who trust in the Lord,
    for those who do not turn to demons and false gods[e] for help.
Lord my God, you have done many amazing things!
    You have made great plans for us—too many to list.
I could talk on and on about them,
    because there are too many to count.

Lord, you made me understand this:[f]
    You don’t really want sacrifices and grain offerings.
    You don’t want burnt offerings and sin offerings.
So I said, “Here I am,
    ready to do what was written about me in the book.
My God, I am happy to do whatever you want.
    I never stop thinking about your teachings.”
I told the good news of victory[g] to the people in the great assembly.
    And, Lord, you know that I will never stop telling that good news.
10 I told about the good things you did.
    I did not hide these things in my heart.
I spoke of how you can be trusted to save us.
    I did not hide your love and loyalty from those in the great assembly.
11 Lord, do not hide your mercy from me.
    Let your love and loyalty always protect me.

12 Troubles have surrounded me.
    They are too many to count!
My sins have caught me,
    and I cannot escape them.
They are more than the hairs on my head.
    I have lost my courage.
13 Please, Lord, rescue me!
    Lord, hurry and help me!
14 People are trying to kill me.
    Please disappoint them.
    Humiliate them completely!
They wanted to hurt me.
    Make them run away in shame!
15 May those who make fun of me
    be too embarrassed to speak!
16 But may those who come to you be happy and rejoice.
    May those who love being saved by you always be able to say, “Praise the Lord!”[h]

17 My Lord, I am only a poor, helpless man,
    but please pay attention to me.
You are my helper, the one who can save me.
    My God, don’t be too late.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 40:1 called Or “waited patiently.”
  2. Psalm 40:2 grave Literally, “pit of destruction.” That is, “Sheol,” the place of death.
  3. Psalm 40:2 muddy place In many ancient stories, Sheol, the place of death, is a dark place with mud all around, like a grave.
  4. Psalm 40:3 new song Whenever God did a new and wonderful thing for his people, they would write a new song about it.
  5. Psalm 40:4 demons and false gods Or “proud and deceptive people.”
  6. Psalm 40:6 you made … this Literally, “you have dug my ears.” The ancient Greek version has “you prepared a body for me.”
  7. Psalm 40:9 victory Or “goodness” or “righteousness.”
  8. Psalm 40:16 Praise the Lord Literally, “The Lord is great” or “May the Lord be magnified.”

Psalm 40[a](A)

For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.

I waited patiently(B) for the Lord;
    he turned to me and heard my cry.(C)
He lifted me out of the slimy pit,(D)
    out of the mud(E) and mire;(F)
he set my feet(G) on a rock(H)
    and gave me a firm place to stand.
He put a new song(I) in my mouth,
    a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear the Lord(J)
    and put their trust(K) in him.

Blessed is the one(L)
    who trusts in the Lord,(M)
who does not look to the proud,(N)
    to those who turn aside to false gods.[b](O)
Many, Lord my God,
    are the wonders(P) you have done,
    the things you planned for us.
None can compare(Q) with you;
    were I to speak and tell of your deeds,
    they would be too many(R) to declare.

Sacrifice and offering you did not desire—(S)
    but my ears you have opened[c](T)
    burnt offerings(U) and sin offerings[d] you did not require.
Then I said, “Here I am, I have come—
    it is written about me in the scroll.[e](V)
I desire to do your will,(W) my God;(X)
    your law is within my heart.”(Y)

I proclaim your saving acts(Z) in the great assembly;(AA)
    I do not seal my lips, Lord,
    as you know.(AB)
10 I do not hide your righteousness in my heart;
    I speak of your faithfulness(AC) and your saving help.
I do not conceal your love and your faithfulness
    from the great assembly.(AD)

11 Do not withhold your mercy(AE) from me, Lord;
    may your love(AF) and faithfulness(AG) always protect(AH) me.
12 For troubles(AI) without number surround me;
    my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see.(AJ)
They are more than the hairs of my head,(AK)
    and my heart fails(AL) within me.
13 Be pleased to save me, Lord;
    come quickly, Lord, to help me.(AM)

14 May all who want to take my life(AN)
    be put to shame and confusion;(AO)
may all who desire my ruin(AP)
    be turned back in disgrace.
15 May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!”(AQ)
    be appalled at their own shame.
16 But may all who seek you(AR)
    rejoice and be glad(AS) in you;
may those who long for your saving help always say,
    “The Lord is great!”(AT)

17 But as for me, I am poor and needy;(AU)
    may the Lord think(AV) of me.
You are my help(AW) and my deliverer;(AX)
    you are my God, do not delay.(AY)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 40:1 In Hebrew texts 40:1-17 is numbered 40:2-18.
  2. Psalm 40:4 Or to lies
  3. Psalm 40:6 Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts but a body you have prepared for me
  4. Psalm 40:6 Or purification offerings
  5. Psalm 40:7 Or come / with the scroll written for me