Psalm 40

New Century Version

Praise and Prayer for Help

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

40 I waited patiently for the Lord.
    He turned to me and heard my cry.
²He lifted me out of the pit of destruction,
    out of the sticky mud.
He stood me on a rock
    and made my feet steady.
³He put a new song in my mouth,
    a song of praise to our God.
Many people will see this and worship him.
    Then they will trust the Lord.

⁴Happy is the person
    who trusts the Lord,
who doesn’t turn to those who are proud
    or to those who worship false gods.
⁵Lord my God, you have done many miracles.
    Your plans for us are many.
If I tried to tell them all,
    there would be too many to count.

⁶You do not want sacrifices and offerings.
    But you have made a hole in my ear
    to show that my body and life are yours.
You do not ask for burnt offerings
    and sacrifices to take away sins.
⁷Then I said, “Look, I have come.
    It is written about me in the book.
⁸My God, I want to do what you want.
    Your teachings are in my heart.”

⁹I will tell about your goodness in the great meeting of your people.
    Lord, you know my lips are not silent.
¹⁰I do not hide your goodness in my heart;
    I speak about your loyalty and salvation.
I do not hide your love and truth
    from the people in the great meeting.

¹¹Lord, do not hold back your mercy from me;
    let your love and truth always protect me.
¹²Troubles have surrounded me;
    there are too many to count.
My sins have caught me
    so that I cannot see a way to escape.
I have more sins than hairs on my head,
    and I have lost my courage.
¹³Please, Lord, save me.
    Hurry, Lord, to help me.
¹⁴People are trying to kill me.
    Shame them and disgrace them.
People want to hurt me.
    Let them run away in disgrace.
¹⁵People are making fun of me.
    Let them be shamed into silence.
¹⁶But let those who follow you
    be happy and glad.
They love you for saving them.
    May they always say, “Praise the Lord!”