Psalm 40[a](A)

For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.

I waited patiently(B) for the Lord;
    he turned to me and heard my cry.(C)
He lifted me out of the slimy pit,(D)
    out of the mud(E) and mire;(F)
he set my feet(G) on a rock(H)
    and gave me a firm place to stand.
He put a new song(I) in my mouth,
    a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear the Lord(J)
    and put their trust(K) in him.

Blessed is the one(L)
    who trusts in the Lord,(M)
who does not look to the proud,(N)
    to those who turn aside to false gods.[b](O)
Many, Lord my God,
    are the wonders(P) you have done,
    the things you planned for us.
None can compare(Q) with you;
    were I to speak and tell of your deeds,
    they would be too many(R) to declare.

Sacrifice and offering you did not desire—(S)
    but my ears you have opened[c](T)
    burnt offerings(U) and sin offerings[d] you did not require.
Then I said, “Here I am, I have come—
    it is written about me in the scroll.[e](V)
I desire to do your will,(W) my God;(X)
    your law is within my heart.”(Y)

I proclaim your saving acts(Z) in the great assembly;(AA)
    I do not seal my lips, Lord,
    as you know.(AB)
10 I do not hide your righteousness in my heart;
    I speak of your faithfulness(AC) and your saving help.
I do not conceal your love and your faithfulness
    from the great assembly.(AD)

11 Do not withhold your mercy(AE) from me, Lord;
    may your love(AF) and faithfulness(AG) always protect(AH) me.
12 For troubles(AI) without number surround me;
    my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see.(AJ)
They are more than the hairs of my head,(AK)
    and my heart fails(AL) within me.
13 Be pleased to save me, Lord;
    come quickly, Lord, to help me.(AM)

14 May all who want to take my life(AN)
    be put to shame and confusion;(AO)
may all who desire my ruin(AP)
    be turned back in disgrace.
15 May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!”(AQ)
    be appalled at their own shame.
16 But may all who seek you(AR)
    rejoice and be glad(AS) in you;
may those who long for your saving help always say,
    “The Lord is great!”(AT)

17 But as for me, I am poor and needy;(AU)
    may the Lord think(AV) of me.
You are my help(AW) and my deliverer;(AX)
    you are my God, do not delay.(AY)

Psalm 41[f]

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

Blessed(AZ) are those who have regard for the weak;(BA)
    the Lord delivers them in times of trouble.(BB)
The Lord protects(BC) and preserves them—(BD)
    they are counted among the blessed in the land—(BE)
    he does not give them over to the desire of their foes.(BF)
The Lord sustains them on their sickbed(BG)
    and restores them from their bed of illness.(BH)

I said, “Have mercy(BI) on me, Lord;
    heal(BJ) me, for I have sinned(BK) against you.”
My enemies say of me in malice,
    “When will he die and his name perish?(BL)
When one of them comes to see me,
    he speaks falsely,(BM) while his heart gathers slander;(BN)
    then he goes out and spreads(BO) it around.

All my enemies whisper together(BP) against me;
    they imagine the worst for me, saying,
“A vile disease has afflicted him;
    he will never get up(BQ) from the place where he lies.”
Even my close friend,(BR)
    someone I trusted,
one who shared my bread,
    has turned[g] against me.(BS)

10 But may you have mercy(BT) on me, Lord;
    raise me up,(BU) that I may repay(BV) them.
11 I know that you are pleased with me,(BW)
    for my enemy does not triumph over me.(BX)
12 Because of my integrity(BY) you uphold me(BZ)
    and set me in your presence forever.(CA)

13 Praise(CB) be to the Lord, the God of Israel,(CC)
    from everlasting to everlasting.
Amen and Amen.(CD)

BOOK II

Psalms 42–72

Psalm 42[h][i]

For the director of music. A maskil[j] of the Sons of Korah.

As the deer(CE) pants for streams of water,(CF)
    so my soul pants(CG) for you, my God.
My soul thirsts(CH) for God, for the living God.(CI)
    When can I go(CJ) and meet with God?
My tears(CK) have been my food
    day and night,
while people say to me all day long,
    “Where is your God?”(CL)
These things I remember
    as I pour out my soul:(CM)
how I used to go to the house of God(CN)
    under the protection of the Mighty One[k]
with shouts of joy(CO) and praise(CP)
    among the festive throng.(CQ)

Why, my soul, are you downcast?(CR)
    Why so disturbed(CS) within me?
Put your hope in God,(CT)
    for I will yet praise(CU) him,
    my Savior(CV) and my God.(CW)

My soul is downcast within me;
    therefore I will remember(CX) you
from the land of the Jordan,(CY)
    the heights of Hermon(CZ)—from Mount Mizar.
Deep calls to deep(DA)
    in the roar of your waterfalls;
all your waves and breakers
    have swept over me.(DB)

By day the Lord directs his love,(DC)
    at night(DD) his song(DE) is with me—
    a prayer to the God of my life.(DF)

I say to God my Rock,(DG)
    “Why have you forgotten(DH) me?
Why must I go about mourning,(DI)
    oppressed(DJ) by the enemy?”(DK)
10 My bones suffer mortal agony(DL)
    as my foes taunt(DM) me,
saying to me all day long,
    “Where is your God?”(DN)

11 Why, my soul, are you downcast?
    Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
    for I will yet praise him,
    my Savior and my God.(DO)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 40:1 In Hebrew texts 40:1-17 is numbered 40:2-18.
  2. Psalm 40:4 Or to lies
  3. Psalm 40:6 Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts but a body you have prepared for me
  4. Psalm 40:6 Or purification offerings
  5. Psalm 40:7 Or come / with the scroll written for me
  6. Psalm 41:1 In Hebrew texts 41:1-13 is numbered 41:2-14.
  7. Psalm 41:9 Hebrew has lifted up his heel
  8. Psalm 42:1 In many Hebrew manuscripts Psalms 42 and 43 constitute one psalm.
  9. Psalm 42:1 In Hebrew texts 42:1-11 is numbered 42:2-12.
  10. Psalm 42:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  11. Psalm 42:4 See Septuagint and Syriac; the meaning of the Hebrew for this line is uncertain.

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