Psalms
Summary
Psalm 40 is a song of thanksgiving and prayer that begins with David’s testimony of waiting "patiently for the LORD," who brought him up out of a "horrible pit." It contains a magnificent messianic prophecy focusing on the replacement of animal sacrifice with inward obedience: "My ears you have opened... I delight to do your will, O my God." David declares God’s faithfulness in the "great congregation," only to shift into a plea for mercy as "innumerable evils" again surround him. It ends with the confident assurance that though David is "poor and needy," the Lord thinks of him.
I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined to me and heard my cry.
He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
And he has put a new song in my mouth, even praise to our God; many shall see it and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.
He summons the heavens above, and the earth, that he may judge his people:
Many, O LORD my God, are your wonderful works which you have done, and your thoughts which are toward us; they cannot be reckoned up in order to you; if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.
Sacrifice and offering you did not desire; my ears you have opened; burnt offering and sin offering you have not required.
Then said I, "Lo, I come; in the volume of the book it is written of me,"
"I delight to do your will, O my God; yes, your law is within my heart."
I have preached righteousness in the great congregation; lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, you know.
I have not hid your righteousness within my heart; I have declared your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your lovingkindness and your truth from the great congregation.
Withhold not your tender mercies from me, O LORD; let your lovingkindness and your truth continually preserve me.
For innumerable evils have surrounded me; my iniquities have taken hold of me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of my head; therefore my heart fails me.
Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me; O LORD, make haste to help me.
Let them be ashamed and confounded together who seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame who wish me evil.
Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame who say to me, "Aha, aha!"
Let all those who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; let such as love your salvation say continually, "The LORD be magnified!"
But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinks of me; you are my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.