Psalms 40

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

1I waited patiently for the LORD. He leaned close to me. He heard me when I cried out.

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 deep, muddy pit. He set my feet on solid rock. He 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 gave me a new song to sing. It is a song of praise to our God. Many people will see this and be amazed. They will trust the LORD.

Note"Fear" here does not mean being scared. It means being filled with wonder at how great God is.

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. He does not follow people who live by 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. You have so many good plans for us. No one can be compared 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 or gifts brought to the altar. Instead, you opened my ears so I could listen to you. You did not ask for burned gifts or gifts to cover sin.

NotePeople in Bible times brought animals and food to a special table called an altar. Some gifts were burned there as a way of giving them to God.

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, a rolled-up book."

NoteBooks back then were not pages between covers. They were long rolls of paper or animal skin, called scrolls.

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

8I 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 how good and fair you are. I did not keep my mouth closed. LORD, you know that is true.

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 hide your goodness inside my heart. I told people that you keep your promises and that you save. I did not hide your kind, faithful love from the big crowd.

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 faithful love and your truth always keep me safe.

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 all around me are too many to count. My own sins have caught up with me. I cannot even lift my eyes. My sins are more than the hairs on my head. My heart has given up inside me.

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

13Please, LORD, be willing to save me. 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.

14Some people want to take my life. May they be ashamed and confused. Some people want to hurt me. May they be pushed back and put to shame.

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

15Some people laugh at me and say, "Aha! Aha!" May 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.

16May everyone who looks for you be full of joy. May they be glad because of you. May those who love the way you save always say, "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 I need help. But the Lord is thinking about me. You are the one who helps me and saves me. My God, please do not wait.