Psalms 40 God hears the patient soul: obedience is better than sacrifice; the psalmist prays to God to deliver him from evil

 Psalms 40

God hears the patient soul: obedience is better than sacrifice; the psalmist prays to God to deliver him from evil

1 I waited patiently for the Lord, and he inclined to me and heard my cry.

2 He brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps.

3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn to our God; many will see and fear, and will trust in the Lord.

4 Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, and who does not respect the proud or those who turn aside to lies.

5 O Lord my God, many are the wonderful things you have done for us, and your thoughts cannot be counted before you. I would declare them and make them known, but they are more than can be counted.

6 Sacrifice and offering you did not desire; you pierced my ears; burnt offering and sin offering you did not require.

7 Then I said, "Behold, I have come; in the volume of the book it is written of me:

8 I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.

9 I have preached righteousness in the great assembly; behold, I have not restrained my lips, O Lord, you know.

10 I have not hidden your righteousness within my heart; I have proclaimed your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not hidden your lovingkindness and your truth from the great assembly.

11 Do not withhold your compassion from me, O Lord; let your lovingkindness and your truth preserve me continually.

12 For innumerable evils have surrounded me; my iniquities have taken hold of me so that I cannot look up; they are more than the hairs of my head; therefore my heart faints.

13 Delight, O Lord, to deliver me; O Lord, make haste to help me.

14 Let them be ashamed and confounded together who seek my life to destroy it; let them be turned back and confounded who wish me harm.

15 Let them be ashamed because of their shame who say to me, “Aha, aha!”

16 Let those who seek you be glad and rejoice in you; let those who love your salvation say continually, “The Lord be magnified.”

17 I am poor and needy, but the Lord cares for me; you are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God.