Chapter 40

I Waited Patiently for the LORD

Psalms 70:1–5; Hebrews 10:1–18

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

¹I waited patiently for the LORD;

He inclined to me and heard my cry.

²He lifted me up from the pit of despair,

out of the miry clay;

He set my feet upon a rock,

and made my footsteps firm.

³He put a new song in my mouth,

a hymn of praise to our God.

Many will see and fear

and put their trust in the LORD.

⁴Blessed is the man

who has made the LORD his trust,

who has not turned to the proud,

nor to those who lapse into falsehood.^a

⁵Many, O LORD my God,

are the wonders You have done,

and the plans You have for us—

none can compare to You—

if I proclaim and declare them,

they are more than I can count.

⁶Sacrifice and offering You did not desire,

but my ears You have opened.^b

Burnt offerings and sin offerings

You did not require.

⁷Then I said, “Here I am, I have come—

it is written about me in the scroll:

⁸I delight to do Your will, O my God;^c

Your law is within my heart.”

⁹I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly;

behold, I do not seal my lips,

as You, O LORD, do know.

¹⁰I have not covered up Your righteousness in my heart;

I have declared Your faithfulness and salvation;

I have not concealed Your loving devotion and faithfulness

from the great assembly.

¹¹O LORD, do not withhold Your mercy from me;

Your loving devotion and faithfulness will always guard me.

¹²For evils without number surround me;

my sins have overtaken me, so that I cannot see.

They are more than the hairs of my head,

and my heart has failed within me.

¹³Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me;

hurry, O LORD, to help me.

¹⁴May those who seek my life

be ashamed and confounded;

may those who wish me harm

be repelled and humiliated.

¹⁵May those who say to me, “Aha, aha!”

be appalled at their own shame.

¹⁶May all who seek You

rejoice and be glad in You;

may those who love Your salvation

always say, “The LORD be magnified!”

¹⁷But I am poor and needy;

may the Lord think of me.

You are my helper and deliverer;

O my God, do not delay.