Psalm 40
1 I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
1 I waited | patiently • for the | Lord, ||
and he in- | clined • unto | me, and • heard my | calling. ||
2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
2 He brought me also out of the horrible pit, * out of the | mire and | clay, ||
and set my feet upon the | rock, and | 3 ordered my | goings. ||
3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.
3 And he hath put a new | 3 song in my | mouth, ||
even a | thanks•giving | 3 unto our | God. ||
4 Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.
4 Many shall | see it, • and | fear, ||
and shall | put their | trust • in the | Lord. ||
5 Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.
5 Blessed is the man that hath set his | hope • in the | Lord, ||
and turned not unto the proud, and to | such as • go a- | bout with | lies. ||
6 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.
6 O Lord my God, great are the wondrous works which thou hast done, * like as be also thy | thoughts, which • are to | us-ward; ||
and yet there is | 3 no man that | ordereth • them | unto • thee. ||
7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,
7 If I should de- | clare • them, and | speak of • them, ||
they should be | more than • I am | able • to ex- | press. ||
8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.
8 Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, * but mine | ears • hast thou | opened. ||
9 Burnt-offering and sacrifice for | sin • hast thou | not re- | quired: ||
9 I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O Lord, thou knowest.
then said I, | Lo, I | come; ||
10 In the volume of the book it is written of me, * that I should ful- | fil thy | will, • O my | God: ||
10 I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.
I am con- | tent to | do it; ||
yea, thy | law • is with- | in my | heart. ||
11 Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O Lord: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.
11 I have declared thy righteousness in the | great • congre- | gation: ||
lo, I will not refrain my lips, O | Lord, and | that thou | knowest. ||
12 For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me.
12 I have not hid thy righteousness with- | in my | heart; ||
my talk hath been of thy | truth, • and of | thy sal- | vation. ||
13 Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me: O Lord, make haste to help me.
† 13 I have | not kept | back ||
thy loving mercy and | truth • from the | great • congre- | gation. ||
14 Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil.
14 Withdraw not thou thy mercy 3 from | me, O | Lord; ||
let thy loving-kindness and thy | truth | 3 alway pre- | serve me. ||
15 Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha.
15 For innumerable troubles are | come a- | bout me; ||
my sins have taken such hold upon me, that 3 I | am not | able • to look | up; ||
† yea, they are more in | number • than the | hairs ||
of my | head, • and my | heart hath | failed me. ||
16 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The Lord be magnified.
16 O Lord, let it be thy | pleasure • to de- | liver • me; ||
make | haste, O | Lord, to | help me. ||
17 But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.
17 Let them be ashamed, and confounded together, that seek after my | soul • to de- | stroy it; ||
let them be driven backward, and put to re- | buke, that | wish me | evil. ||
18 Let them be desolate, and re- | 3 warded with | shame, ||
that | say un•to me, | Fie up•on thee! | fie up•on thee! ||
19 Let all those that seek thee, be | 3 joyful and | glad in • thee; ||
and let such as love thy salvation, say | 3 alway, The | Lord be | praised. ||
20 As for me, I am poor and needy; but the | Lord | careth • for me. ||
21 Thou art my helper and redeemer; * make no long | tarry•ing, | O my | God. ||
About the Pointing
The text of the Coverdale Psalter follows the 1928 American Book of Common Prayer. The pointing, suitably adapted, is taken from Charles Macpherson, Edward C. Bairstow, and Percy C. Buck, The English Psalter (Novello & Co., 1925).