Open English Translation PSA Chapter 40

For the musical director: a song by David.

40 I waited patiently for Yahweh to help me.

He listened to me and heard my cry.

2 He brought me up out of a horrible pit in the sticky clay,

→ and he set my feet on a rock and made my steps secure.

3 He’s given me a new song to sing, praise to our god.

Many will see it and honour him

≈ and will trust in Yahweh.

4 The person who trusts Yahweh will prosper

and doesn’t honour proud people

or those who go astray and follow lies.

5 Yahweh my god, you’ve done many wonderful things,

and your thoughts about us can’t be numbered.

If I declared and spoke about them,

they would be too many to count.

6 Sacrifices and offerings don’t give you pleasure,

but you’ve opened my mind.

You didn’t actually want burnt offerings or sin offerings.

7 Then said I, “See, I’ve come.

I’m written about in the scroll of the document.

8 I enjoy doing what you want, my god.

Your instructions are on my mind.”

9 I have told everyone in the national assembly about how you always do what is right.

≈ Yahweh, you know that I haven’t shied back from doing that.

10 I haven’t hidden your righteousness away in my heart—

I’ve declared your faithfulness and how you saved me.

I haven’t concealed your loyal commitment or your trustworthiness from the national assembly.

11 Don’t stop being merciful towards me, Yahweh.

Let your loyal commitment and your trustworthiness always preserve me.

12 More troubles surround me than I can even count.

My disobedience has caught up with me so that I’m no longer able to see anything else.

They’re more than the hairs on my head, and my heart fails me.

13 Be pleased, Yahweh, to rescue me.

≈ Hurry to help me, Yahweh.

14 Let those who chase me to take my life be ashamed and completely disappointed.

≈ Let those who delight in hurting me be turned back and brought to dishonour.

15 Let those who cheer because of my fate be shocked because of their shame.

16 But may all those who seek you celebrate and be glad because of you.

Let everyone who appreciates how you rescued them, say continually, “May Yahweh be praised.”

17 I’m poor and needy, yet my master thinks about me.

You’re my help and you come to my rescue.

Don’t delay, my god.