Psalms

I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

1I waited patiently for the LORD. He bent down toward me and heard me call for help.

2He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.

2He pulled me up out of a terrible pit, out of the deep, sticky mud. He set my feet on solid rock and made my steps steady.

3And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.

3He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many people will see it. They will be filled with wonder, and they will trust the LORD.

4Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.

4Happy is the person who trusts the LORD. That person does not follow proud people or those who chase after lies.

5Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.

5LORD my God, you have done so many wonderful things, and you have so many plans for us. No one else compares to you. If I tried to tell them all, there would be too many to count.

6Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.

6You did not want animals killed and given to you. You did not ask for burnt gifts or gifts for sin. What you did was open my ears to listen.

Note"Mine ears hast thou opened" is a picture of being made ready and willing to listen and obey.

7Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,

7So I said, "Here I am. I have come. It is written about me in the scroll."

Note"The volume of the book" means a scroll — a long roll of writing, which is how books were made then.

8I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.

8"I am glad to do what you want, my God. Your teaching is deep inside my heart."

9I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest.

9I have told the big crowd of worshipers what is right. I did not keep my mouth shut, LORD, and you know it.

10I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.

10I did not keep the news of your goodness hidden inside me. I told people how faithful you are and how you save. I did not hide your love and your truth from the whole gathering.

11Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.

11LORD, do not hold back your kindness from me. Let your love and your truth keep me safe all the time.

12For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me.

12Troubles I cannot count are all around me. My sins have caught up with me, and I cannot even look up. They are more than the hairs on my head, and my courage is gone.

13Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me.

13Please be willing to rescue me, LORD. Hurry, LORD, and help me.

14Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil.

14Let the people who want to kill me be ashamed and confused. Let those who want to hurt me be pushed back and put to shame.

15Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha.

15Those who laugh at me and say, "Aha! Aha!" — let their own shame leave them stunned.

16Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified.

16But let everyone who looks for you be full of joy and gladness. Let those who love the way you save keep saying, "The LORD is great!"

17But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.

17I am poor and in need, but the Lord is thinking about me. You are my helper and my rescuer. My God, do not wait.