Psalm 40

My Help and My Deliverer

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

1  I waited patiently for the Lord;
he inclined to me and heard my cry.
2  He drew me up from the pit of destruction,
out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock,
making my steps secure.
3  He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
and put their trust in the Lord.

4  Blessed is the man who makes
the Lord his trust,
who does not turn to the proud,
to those who go astray after a lie!
5  You have multiplied, O Lord my God,
your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us;
none can compare with you!
I will proclaim and tell of them,
yet they are more than can be told.

6  In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted,
but you have given me an open ear.t
Burnt offering and sin offering
you have not required.
7  Then I said, "Behold, I have come;
in the scroll of the book it is written of me:
8  I delight to do your will, O my God;
your law is within my heart."

9  I have told the glad news of deliverancet
in the great congregation;
behold, I have not restrained my lips,
as you know, O Lord.
10  I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart;
I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation;
I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness
from the great congregation.

11  As for you, O Lord, you will not restrain
your mercy from me;
your steadfast love and your faithfulness will
ever preserve me!
12  For evils have encompassed me
beyond number;
my iniquities have overtaken me,
and I cannot see;
they are more than the hairs of my head;
my heart fails me.

13  Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me!
O Lord, make haste to help me!
14  Let those be put to shame and disappointed altogether
who seek to snatch away my life;
let those be turned back and brought to dishonor
who delight in my hurt!
15  Let those be appalled because of their shame
who say to me, "Aha, Aha!"

16  But may all who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who love your salvation
say continually, "Great is the Lord!"
17  As for me, I am poor and needy,
but the Lord takes thought for me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
do not delay, O my God!

Psalms 40

A prayer for help

1 I patiently waited, Lord,
for you to hear my prayer.
You listened

2 and pulled me
from a lonely pit
full of mud and mire.
You let me stand on a rock
with my feet firm,

3 and you gave me a new song,
a song of praise to you.
Many will see this,
and they will honour and trust
you, the Lord God.

4 You bless all of those
who trust you, Lord,
and refuse to worship idols
or follow false gods.

5 You, Lord God, have done
many wonderful things,
and you have planned
marvellous things for us.
No one is like you!
I would never be able to tell
all you have done.

6 Sacrifices and offeringst
are not what please you;
gifts and payment for sin
are not what you demand.
But you made me willing
to listen and obey.

7 And so, I said, “I am here
to do what is written
about me in the book,
where it says,

8 ‘I enjoy pleasing you.
Your Law is in my heart.’ ”

9 When your people worshipped,
you know I told them,
“Our Lord always helps!”

10 When all your people met,
I did not keep silent.
I said, “Our Lord is kind.
He is faithful and caring,
and he saves us.”

11 You, Lord, never fail
to have pity on me;
your love and faithfulness
always keep me secure.

12 I have more troubles
than I can count.
My sins are all around me,
and I can't find my way.
My sins outnumber
the hairs on my head,
and I feel weak.

13 Please show that you care
and come to my rescue.
Hurry and help me!

14 Disappoint and confuse
all who want me dead;
turn away and disgrace
all who want to hurt me.

15 Embarrass and shame
all those who say,
“Just look at you now!”

16 Our Lord, let your worshippers
rejoice and be glad.
They love you for saving them,
so let them always say,
“The Lord is wonderful!”

17 I am poor and needy,
but, Lord God,
you care about me,
and you come to my rescue.
Please hurry and help.