Psalms

The first book of Psalms, song 40, New English Translation and King James Version

Psalm 40

New English Translation

   For the music director; By David, a psalm.
   1 I relied completely on the LORD, and he turned toward me and heard my cry for help.
   2 He lifted me out of the watery pit, out of the slimy mud. He placed my feet on a rock and gave me secure footing.
   3 He gave me reason to sing a new song, praising our God. May many see what God has done, so that they might swear allegiance to him and trust in the LORD!
   4 How blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD and does not seek help from the proud or from liars!
   5 O LORD, my God, you have accomplished many things; you have done amazing things and carried out your purposes for us. No one can thwart you! I want to declare them and talk about them, but they are too numerous to recount!
   6 Receiving sacrifices and offerings are not your primary concern. You make that quite clear to me! You do not ask for burnt sacrifices and sin offerings.
   7 Then I say, "Look! I come! What is written in the scroll pertains to me.
   8 I want to do what pleases you, my God. Your law dominates my thoughts."
   9 I have told the great assembly about your justice. Look! I spare no words! O LORD, you know this is true.
   10 I have not failed to tell about your justice; I spoke about your reliability and deliverance; I have not neglected to tell the great assembly about your loyal love and faithfulness.
   11 O LORD, you do not withhold your compassion from me. May your loyal love and faithfulness continually protect me!
   12 For innumerable dangers surround me. My sins overtake me so I am unable to see; they outnumber the hairs of my head so my strength fails me.
   13 Please be willing, O LORD, to rescue me! O LORD, hurry and help me!
   14 May those who are trying to snatch away my life be totally embarrassed and ashamed! May those who want to harm me be turned back and ashamed!
   15 May those who say to me, "Aha! Aha!" be humiliated and disgraced!
   16 May all those who seek you be happy and rejoice in you! May those who love to experience your deliverance say continually, "May the LORD be praised!"
   17 I am oppressed and needy! May the LORD pay attention to me! You are my helper and my deliverer! O my God, do not delay!

King James Version

   To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.
   1 I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
   2 He 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.
   3 And 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.
   4 Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.
   5 Many, 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.
   6 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.
   7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,
   8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.
   9 I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest.
   10 I 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.
   11 Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.
   12 For 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.
   13 Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me.
   14 Let 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.
   15 Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha.
   16 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified.
   17 But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.