Psalms 40

Waiting for the LORD, Delighting to Do His Will, and Pleading for Help

Psalm 40 moves from remembered deliverance to public witness, from public witness to obedient delight in God's will, and from obedient proclamation to renewed lament that asks the LORD to help without delay.

World English Bible, Public Domain

Psalms 40:1–10

I waited for the Lord and He lifted me from the pit; now I delight to do His will and tell of His great salvation in the assembly of His people.

1 I waited patiently for Yahweh. He turned to me, and heard my cry.

2 He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay. He set my feet on a rock, and gave me a firm place to stand.

3 He has put a new song in my mouth, even praise to our God. Many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in Yahweh.

4 Blessed is the man who makes Yahweh his trust, and doesn’t respect the proud, nor such as turn away to lies.

5 Many, Yahweh, my God, are the wonderful works which you have done, and your thoughts which are toward us. They can’t be declared back to you. If I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be counted.

6 Sacrifice and offering you didn’t desire. You have opened my ears. You have not required burnt offering and sin offering.

7 Then I said, “Behold, I have come. It is written about me in the book in the scroll.

8 I delight to do your will, my God. Yes, your law is within my heart.”

9 I have proclaimed glad news of righteousness in the great assembly. Behold, I will not seal my lips, Yahweh, you know.

10 I have not hidden your righteousness within my heart. I have declared your faithfulness and your salvation. I have not concealed your loving kindness and your truth from the great assembly.

Psalms 40:11–17

Lord, do not withhold Your mercy from me as my sins overtake me; come quickly to help me and be my deliverer, for I am poor and needy and my hope is in You.

11 Don’t withhold your tender mercies from me, Yahweh. Let your loving kindness and your truth continually preserve me.

12 For innumerable evils have surrounded me. My iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to look up. They are more than the hairs of my head. My heart has failed me.

13 Be pleased, Yahweh, to deliver me. Hurry to help me, Yahweh.

14 Let them be disappointed and confounded together who seek after my soul to destroy it. Let them be turned backward and brought to dishonor who delight in my hurt.

15 Let them be desolate by reason of their shame that tell me, “Aha! Aha!”

16 Let all those who seek you rejoice and be glad in you. Let such as love your salvation say continually, “Let Yahweh be exalted!”

17 But I am poor and needy. May the Lord think about me. You are my help and my deliverer. Don’t delay, my God.

Key Terms

יְהוָה YHWH H3068
וַיֵּט vayyēt H5186
שַׁוְעָה shav'ah H7775
בּוֹר bor H953
שָׁאוֹן sha'on H7588
טִיט הַיָּוֵן tit hayyaven H2916
סֶלַע sela' H5553
שִׁיר חָדָשׁ shir chadash H7892
יָרֵא yare' H3372
בָּטַח batach H982
אַשְׁרֵי ashrei H835

World English Bible (WEB): Public Domain Scripture text · License details