The Book of Psalms

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- Chapter 40 -

I waited patiently for the Lord

(Psalm 70:1-5; Hebrews 10:1-18)

Unto the end. A Psalm of David himself.(a)

I have waited expectantly for the Lord, and he was attentive to me.(b)

And he heard my prayers and he led me out of the pit of misery and the quagmire. And he stationed my feet upon a rock, and he directed my steps.

And he sent a new canticle into my mouth, a song to our God. Many will see, and they will fear; and they will hope in the Lord.(c)

Blessed is the man whose hope is in the name of the Lord, and who has no respect for vanities and absurd falsehoods.

You have accomplished your many wonders, O Lord my God, and there is no one similar to you in your thoughts. I have announced and I have spoken: they are multiplied beyond number.(d)

Sacrifice and oblation, you did not want. But you have perfected ears for me. Holocaust and sin offering, you did not require.

Then I said, “Behold, I draw near.” At the head of the book, it has been written of me:

that I should do your will. My God, I have willed it. And your law is in the midst of my heart.

I have announced your justice in a great Church: behold, I will not restrain my lips. O Lord, you have known it.

I have not concealed your justice within my heart. I have spoken your truth and your salvation. I have not concealed your mercy and your truth from a great assembly.

O Lord, do not take your tender mercies far from me. Your mercy and your truth ever sustain me.

For evils without number have surrounded me. My iniquities have taken hold of me, and I was not able to see. They have been multiplied beyond the hairs of my head. And my heart has forsaken me.(e)

Be pleased, O Lord, to rescue me. Look down, O Lord, to help me.

Let them together be confounded and awed, who seek after my soul to steal it away. Let them be turned back and be in awe, who wish evils upon me.

Let them bear their confusion all at once, who say to me, “Well, well.”(f)

Let all who seek you exult and rejoice over you. And let those who love your salvation always say, “May the Lord be magnified.”

But I am a beggar and poor. The Lord has been concerned about me. You are my helper and my protector. My God, do not delay.

Footnotes

(a)39:1 In other words, ‘A Psalm of David about David himself.’(Conte)

(b)39:2 The repetition of the verb intensifies its meaning. A more loose translation: ‘I have waited and waited for the Lord....’(Conte)

(c)39:4 The word ‘carmen’ refers to a song or a play or a card used for wool/flax, i.e. it refers to anything that is divided into parts: ‘a song in parts to our God.’(Conte)

(d)39:6 The word ‘cogitationibus’ is plural and refers to thoughts, perceptions, things that are understood, and/or intentions. The word ‘cognitions’ expresses nearly the same range of meanings as ‘cogitationibus,’ but the English word is more obscure. Sometimes an obscure word that more fully expresses the meaning is a better choice than a common easily understood word that expresses less of the meaning.(Conte)

(e)39:13 My iniquities:That is, the sins of all mankind, which I have taken upon me.(Challoner)

(f)39:16 ‘Tis well:The Hebrew here is an interjection of insult and derision, like the Vah. Matt. 27:49.(Challoner)

I waited patiently for the Lord

(Psalm 70:1-5; Hebrews 10:1-18)

I waited patiently for the LORD. He turned to me, and heard my cry.

He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay. He set my feet on a rock, and gave me a firm place to stand.

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.

Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, and doesn’t respect the proud, nor such as turn away to lies.

Many, LORD, my God, are the wonderful works which you have done, and your thoughts which are toward us. They can’t be declared back to you. If I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be counted.

Sacrifice and offering you didn’t desire. You have opened my ears. You have not required burnt offering and sin offering.

Then I said, “Behold, I have come. It is written about me in the book in the scroll.

I delight to do your will, my God. Yes, your law is within my heart.”

I have proclaimed glad news of righteousness in the great assembly. Behold, I will not seal my lips, LORD, you know.

I have not hidden your righteousness within my heart. I have declared your faithfulness and your salvation. I have not concealed your loving kindness and your truth from the great assembly.

Don’t withhold your tender mercies from me, LORD. Let your loving kindness and your truth continually preserve me.

For innumerable evils have surrounded me. My iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to look up. They are more than the hairs of my head. My heart has failed me.

Be pleased, LORD, to deliver me. Hurry to help me, LORD.

Let them be disappointed and confounded together who seek after my soul to destroy it. Let them be turned backward and brought to dishonor who delight in my hurt.

Let them be desolate by reason of their shame that tell me, “Aha! Aha!”

Let all those who seek you rejoice and be glad in you. Let such as love your salvation say continually, “Let the LORD be exalted!”

But I am poor and needy. May the Lord think about me. You are my help and my deliverer. Don’t delay, my God.