40:1 For the music director; By David, a psalm.

I relied completely ²  on the Lord,

and he turned toward me

and heard my cry for help.

40:2 He lifted me out of the watery pit, ³ 

out of the slimy mud. ⁴ 

He placed my feet on a rock

and gave me secure footing. ⁵ 

40:3 He gave me reason to sing a new song, ⁶ 

praising our God. ⁷ 

May many see what God has done,

so that they might swear allegiance to him and trust in the Lord! ⁸ 

40:4 How blessed ⁹  is the one ¹⁰  who trusts in the Lord ¹¹ 

and does not seek help from ¹²  the proud or from liars! ¹³ 

40:5 O Lord, my God, you have accomplished many things;

you have done amazing things and carried out your purposes for us. ¹⁴ 

No one can thwart you! ¹⁵ 

I want to declare them and talk about them,

but they are too numerous to recount! ¹⁶ 

40:6 Receiving sacrifices and offerings are not your primary concern. ¹⁷ 

You make that quite clear to me! ¹⁸ 

You do not ask for burnt sacrifices and sin offerings.

40:7 Then I say,

“Look! I come!

What is written in the scroll pertains to me. ¹⁹ 

40:8 I want to do what pleases you, ²⁰  my God.

Your law dominates my thoughts.” ²¹ 

40:9 I have told the great assembly ²²  about your justice. ²³ 

Look! I spare no words! ²⁴ 

O Lord, you know this is true.

40:10 I have not failed to tell about your justice; ²⁵ 

I spoke about your reliability and deliverance;

I have not neglected to tell the great assembly about your loyal love and faithfulness. ²⁶ 

40:11 O Lord, you do not withhold ²⁷  your compassion from me.

May your loyal love and faithfulness continually protect me! ²⁸ 

40:12 For innumerable dangers ²⁹  surround me.

My sins overtake me

so I am unable to see;

they outnumber the hairs of my head

so my strength fails me. ³⁰ 

40:13 Please be willing, O Lord, to rescue me!

O Lord, hurry and help me! ³¹ 

40:14 May those who are trying to snatch away my life

be totally embarrassed and ashamed! ³² 

May those who want to harm me

be turned back and ashamed! ³³ 

40:15 May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!”

be humiliated ³⁴  and disgraced! ³⁵ 

40:16 May all those who seek you be happy and rejoice in you!

May those who love to experience ³⁶  your deliverance say continually, ³⁷ 

“May the Lord be praised!” ³⁸ 

40:17 I am oppressed and needy! ³⁹ 

May the Lord pay attention to me! ⁴⁰ 

You are my helper and my deliverer!

O my God, do not delay!