Psalms 40

1I waited for the Lord to help me, and then He bowed down and heard me crying. He listened to me.

2He lifted me up out of the deep hole that was full of mud. He put my feet on a rock on solid ground and kept my feet from slipping.

3He gave me a new song to sing, a song of praise to our God. Many will see what he did and worship him. They will put their trust in the Lord.

4All will go well with someone who trusts in the Lord, who not trust in the proud or in those who worship idols.

5The Lord is my God, you have done many amazing things! You have made great plans for us that they are too many to list. I could talk on and on about them, because there are too many to count.

6Lord, you made me understand this: You don’t really want sacrifices and offerings. You don’t want burnt offerings and sin offerings.

7Then said The Lord: here I am. I am here to do what is written about me in the book of laws.

8My God, I want to do what You want. I always think about what is written in your laws.

9I told the good news of victory to the people in the great assembly. And, Lord, you know that I will never stop telling that good news.

10I have talked about the good things you did. I did not hide these things in my heart. I spoke of how you can be trusted to save us. I did not hide your love and loyalty from those in the great assembly.

11Lord, do not hide your mercy from me. Let your love and truth always protect me.

12Troubles have surrounded me. They are too many to count! My sins have caught me, and I cannot escape them. They are more than the hairs on my head. I have lost my courage.

13LORD, be pleased to save me; hurry to help me, LORD.

14I pray that you will punish the people who want to take away my life and make them ashamed. Make them turn around and go away,

15May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!” be amazed at their own shame.

16May all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; may those who love Your salvation always say, Great is the LORD!

17I am poor, and I cannot help myself, but the Lord will never forget me. Lord, you are my Helper and my Saviour. Please do not wait too long