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40

I Waited Patiently for the LORD

17 versesThanksgiving and LamentThe heading attributes it to David and addresses it to the Chief Musician

Psalm 40 summary: what it means

Psalm 40 begins with a rescue already complete. The writer waited patiently, and the LORD heard. He lifted him out of a horrible pit and miry clay and set his feet on a rock. A new song follows, and the writer says many will see it and trust the LORD. He then reflects that God did not want sacrifice so much as an open ear and a heart that delights to do his will.

The second half turns sharply. The writer is surrounded again, by troubles and by his own sins, more than the hairs of his head. He asks for help to come quickly. Verses 13 to 17 closely match the words of Psalm 70. The psalm ends where it began, waiting: I am poor and needy, do not delay.

Psalm 40: I Waited Patiently for the LORD

World English Bible, public domain. allpsalms.com/psalm-40

Psalm 40 commentary: explained verse by verse

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

The psalm opens with waiting that has already been rewarded. The writer waited patiently, and the LORD turned to him and heard his cry. The next verses describe what the answer looked like.

Also read Psalm 34:15, Psalm 116:2, James 5:7-11, Daniel 9:18

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.

The rescue is pictured as being pulled out of a horrible pit and miry clay, a place with nothing firm underfoot. God sets the writer's feet on a rock and gives him a firm place to stand. Verse 3 adds that a new song was put in his mouth.

Also read Jonah 2:5-6, Psalm 71:20, Acts 2:24, Jeremiah 38:6-12

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.

Also read Psalm 35:27, Psalm 144:9, Psalm 64:9-10, Acts 2:31-41

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

The writer draws a general lesson. Blessed is the person who trusts the LORD and does not look to the proud or to those who turn to lies. Here the psalm speaks beyond the writer's own experience.

Also read Psalm 15:4, Psalm 118:8-9, Psalm 119:21, Psalm 101:3-7

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.

The writer says God's works and his thoughts toward his people are too many to count. If he tried to declare them all, he could not. The verse praises God by admitting a limit.

Also read Psalm 92:5, Psalm 139:6, Exodus 11:8, Job 26:14

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

This verse says God did not desire sacrifice and offering, burnt offering or sin offering. Instead he has opened the writer's ears. Listening to God is set above ritual offerings, and Hebrews 10:5 to 7 in the New Testament quotes verses 6 to 8.

Also read Amos 5:22, Hosea 6:6, Hebrews 10:5-12, Isaiah 50:4-5

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

The writer answers, "Behold, I have come." He adds that it is written about him in the scroll of the book. The next verse explains what he has come to do: delight in God's will.

Also read Acts 10:43, 1 Peter 1:10-11, John 5:39, Luke 24:44

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

Also read Psalm 119:92, John 4:34, Psalm 119:47, Jeremiah 31:33

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

The speaker says what he has done with his rescue: he has proclaimed glad news of righteousness in the great assembly. He has not sealed his lips, and he calls on God as witness: LORD, you know. Verse 10 repeats the point. The KJV reads I have preached righteousness in the great congregation.

Also read Psalm 22:22, Psalm 35:18, Psalm 119:13, Luke 4:16-22

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.

The writer insists he has not kept quiet. He has not hidden God's righteousness, and has declared his faithfulness, salvation, loving kindness and truth in the great assembly. Five qualities of God are named in one verse.

Also read Luke 3:6, Psalm 25:10, Isaiah 49:6, Micah 7:20

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

Having spoken of God's mercy to others, the writer now asks for it himself. He asks that God's loving kindness and truth continually preserve him. This verse is the hinge between the thanksgiving and the plea.

Also read Psalm 43:3, Psalm 23:6, Psalm 85:10, Proverbs 20:28

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.

The trouble returns. Evils surround the writer, and his own iniquities have overtaken him so that he cannot look up. They are more than the hairs of his head, and his heart has failed him.

Also read Hebrews 4:15, Isaiah 53:6, Luke 18:13-14, 1 Peter 3:18

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

After the heavy words of verse 12, the speaker asks for help with urgency: be pleased to deliver me, hurry to help me. Psalm 70 opens with almost the same plea, and its five verses closely follow verses 13 to 17 here. The KJV reads O LORD, make haste to help me.

Also read Psalm 38:22, Psalm 71:12, Psalm 70:1-5, Psalm 22:19

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.

The writer asks that those who seek to destroy him be disappointed and confounded. Those who delight in his hurt are to be turned back and brought to dishonour. Psalm 70:2 makes almost the same request.

Also read Psalm 35:26, Acts 12:23-24, Matthew 21:38-41, John 18:6

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

Also read Psalm 73:19, Psalm 35:21, Luke 19:43-44, Psalm 35:25

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!”

The prayer widens to everyone who seeks God. They are to rejoice and be glad, and those who love his salvation are to keep saying that the LORD be exalted. Psalm 70:4 has the same words, with God in place of LORD.

Also read Psalm 119:123, Psalm 105:3, Psalm 119:81, Psalm 119:111

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

The psalm ends in need, not in triumph. The writer calls himself poor and needy, asks the Lord to think about him, and names God as his help and deliverer. The last words ask God not to delay.

Also read 1 Peter 2:23, Psalm 40:5, James 2:5, Psalm 86:1

A prayer from Psalm 40

LORD, I wait patiently for you. Turn to me and hear my cry. Bring me up out of the pit and the miry clay, and set my feet on a rock. Put a new song in my mouth. Your wonderful works and your thoughts toward us are more than I can count. I delight to do your will, and I want your law within my heart. I will not hide your faithfulness and your loving kindness. When troubles surround me and my heart fails, do not withhold your tender mercies. I am poor and needy. You are my help and my deliverer. Do not delay, my God. Amen.

Psalm 40 Bible study questions

  1. In verses 1 to 3, what does the speaker say God did after he waited patiently?
  2. In verse 6, what does the psalm say God did not desire or require, and what did he do instead?
  3. Verse 12 returns to trouble after the song of rescue in verses 1 to 3; what do you make of that order?
  4. Verse 10 says I have not hidden your righteousness within my heart; when do you think it is right to speak about what you have received?
  5. Psalm 70:1 repeats the plea of Psalm 40:13 almost word for word; what changes when the plea stands on its own?

Questions about Psalm 40

What does Psalm 40 mean?

It is a thanksgiving for rescue from a horrible pit that turns into a new prayer for help. The writer praises God, says obedience matters more to God than sacrifice, and then asks to be saved again from troubles and his own sins.

Who wrote Psalm 40?

The heading attributes it to David and addresses it to the Chief Musician.

What does Psalm 40:17 mean?

It is the closing prayer of someone still in need: I am poor and needy, may the Lord think about me. It names God as help and deliverer and asks him not to delay.

What does Psalm 40:6 mean?

It says God did not desire sacrifices and offerings but opened the writer's ears, setting listening and obedience above ritual. The New Testament quotes verses 6 to 8 in Hebrews 10:5 to 7.

What is Psalm 40:2 in the KJV?

The King James Version reads: "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."

Is U2's song 40 based on Psalm 40?

Yes. The song "40", from U2's 1983 album War, has lyrics adapted from Psalm 40.

Psalm 40 KJV: the King James Version

I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.1

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

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

Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.4

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

Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.6

Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,7

I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.8

I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest.9

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.10

Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.11

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

Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me.13

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

Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha.15

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

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

Psalm 40 in Hebrew

The Hebrew text from the Westminster Leningrad Codex, public domain. Verse numbers follow the Hebrew Bible, which counts a psalm's heading as verse 1, so they can run one ahead of English Bibles.

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1 לַ֝מְנַצֵּ֗חַ לְדָוִ֥ד מִזְמֽוֹר׃

2 קַוֺּ֣ה קִוִּ֣יתִי יְהוָ֑ה וַיֵּ֥ט אֵ֝לַ֗י וַיִּשְׁמַ֥ע שַׁוְעָתִֽי׃

3 וַיַּעֲלֵ֤נִי ׀ מִבּ֥וֹר שָׁאוֹן֮ מִטִּ֪יט הַיָּ֫וֵ֥ן וַיָּ֖קֶם עַל־סֶ֥לַע רַגְלַ֗י כּוֹנֵ֥ן אֲשֻׁרָֽי׃

4 וַיִּתֵּ֬ן בְּפִ֨י ׀ שִׁ֥יר חָדָשׁ֮ תְּהִלָּ֪ה לֵֽאלֹ֫הֵ֥ינוּ יִרְא֣וּ רַבִּ֣ים וְיִירָ֑אוּ וְ֝יִבְטְח֗וּ בַּיהוָֽה׃

5 אַ֥שְֽׁרֵי הַגֶּ֗בֶר אֲשֶׁר־שָׂ֣ם יְ֭הֹוָה מִבְטַח֑וֹ וְֽלֹא־פָנָ֥ה אֶל־רְ֝הָבִ֗ים וְשָׂטֵ֥י כָזָֽב׃

6 רַבּ֤וֹת עָשִׂ֨יתָ ׀ אַתָּ֤ה ׀ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהַי֮ נִֽפְלְאֹתֶ֥יךָ וּמַחְשְׁבֹתֶ֗יךָ אֵ֫לֵ֥ינוּ אֵ֤ין ׀ עֲרֹ֬ךְ אֵלֶ֗יךָ אַגִּ֥ידָה וַאֲדַבֵּ֑רָה עָ֝צְמ֗וּ מִסַּפֵּֽר׃

7 זֶ֤בַח וּמִנְחָ֨ה ׀ לֹֽא־חָפַ֗צְתָּ אָ֭זְנַיִם כָּרִ֣יתָ לִּ֑י עוֹלָ֥ה וַ֝חֲטָאָ֗ה לֹ֣א שָׁאָֽלְתָּ׃

8 אָ֣ז אָ֭מַרְתִּי הִנֵּה־בָ֑אתִי בִּמְגִלַּת־סֵ֝֗פֶר כָּת֥וּב עָלָֽי׃

9 לַֽעֲשֽׂוֹת־רְצוֹנְךָ֣ אֱלֹהַ֣י חָפָ֑צְתִּי וְ֝ת֥וֹרָתְךָ֗ בְּת֣וֹךְ מֵעָֽי׃

10 בִּשַּׂ֤רְתִּי צֶ֨דֶק ׀ בְּקָ֘הָ֤ל רָ֗ב הִנֵּ֣ה שְׂ֭פָתַי לֹ֣א אֶכְלָ֑א יְ֝הוָ֗ה אַתָּ֥ה יָדָֽעְתָּ׃

11 צִדְקָתְךָ֬ לֹא־כִסִּ֨יתִי ׀ בְּת֬וֹךְ לִבִּ֗י אֱמוּנָתְךָ֣ וּתְשׁוּעָתְךָ֣ אָמָ֑רְתִּי לֹא־כִחַ֥דְתִּי חַסְדְּךָ֥ וַ֝אֲמִתְּךָ֗ לְקָהָ֥ל רָֽב׃

12 אַתָּ֤ה יְהוָ֗ה לֹא־תִכְלָ֣א רַחֲמֶ֣יךָ מִמֶּ֑נִּי חַסְדְּךָ֥ וַ֝אֲמִתְּךָ֗ תָּמִ֥יד יִצְּרֽוּנִי׃

13 כִּ֤י אָפְפ֥וּ־עָלַ֨י ׀ רָע֡וֹת עַד־אֵ֬ין מִסְפָּ֗ר הִשִּׂיג֣וּנִי עֲ֭וֺנֹתַי וְלֹא־יָכֹ֣לְתִּי לִרְא֑וֹת עָצְמ֥וּ מִשַּֽׂעֲר֥וֹת רֹ֝אשִׁ֗י וְלִבִּ֥י עֲזָבָֽנִי׃

14 רְצֵ֣ה יְ֭הוָה לְהַצִּילֵ֑נִי יְ֝הוָ֗ה לְעֶזְרָ֥תִי חֽוּשָׁה׃

15 יֵ֘בֹ֤שׁוּ וְיַחְפְּר֨וּ ׀ יַחַד֮ מְבַקְשֵׁ֥י נַפְשִׁ֗י לִסְפּ֫וֹתָ֥הּ יִסֹּ֣גוּ אָ֭חוֹר וְיִכָּלְמ֑וּ חֲ֝פֵצֵ֗י רָעָתִֽי׃

16 יָ֭שֹׁמּוּ עַל־עֵ֣קֶב בָּשְׁתָּ֑ם הָאֹמְרִ֥ים לִ֝֗י הֶ֘אָ֥ח ׀ הֶאָֽח׃

17 יָ֘שִׂ֤ישׂוּ וְיִשְׂמְח֨וּ ׀ בְּךָ֗ כָּֽל־מְבַ֫קְשֶׁ֥יךָ יֹאמְר֣וּ תָ֭מִיד יִגְדַּ֣ל יְהוָ֑ה אֹֽ֝הֲבֵ֗י תְּשׁוּעָתֶֽךָ׃

18 וַאֲנִ֤י ׀ עָנִ֣י וְאֶבְיוֹן֮ אֲדֹנָ֪י יַחֲשָׁ֫ב לִ֥י עֶזְרָתִ֣י וּמְפַלְטִ֣י אַ֑תָּה אֱ֝לֹהַ֗י אַל־תְּאַחַֽר׃

Psalm 40 in the Catholic Douay-Rheims Bible

The Douay-Rheims Bible, 1899 edition, public domain. It follows the Greek and Latin numbering, so this psalm is Psalm 39 there.

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1 Unto the end, a psalm for David himself.

2 With expectation I have waited for the Lord, and he was attentive to me.

3 And he heard my prayers, and brought me out of the pit of misery and the mire of dregs. And he set my feet upon a rock, and directed my steps.

4 And he put a new canticle into my mouth, a song to our God. Many shall see, and shall fear: and they shall hope in the Lord.

5 Blessed is the man whose trust is in the name of the Lord; and who hath not had regard to vanities, and lying follies.

6 Thou hast multiplied thy wonderful works, O Lord my God: and in thy thoughts there is no one like to thee. I have declared and I have spoken they are multiplied above number.

7 Sacrifice and oblation thou didst not desire; but thou hast pierced ears for me. Burnt offering and sin offering thou didst not require:

8 Then said I, Behold I come. In the head of the book it is written of me

9 That I should do thy will: O my God, I have desired it, and thy law in the midst of my heart.

10 I have declared thy justice in a great church, lo, I will not restrain my lips: O Lord, thou knowest it.

11 I have not hid thy justice within my heart: I have declared thy truth and thy salvation. I have not concealed thy mercy and thy truth from a great council.

12 Withhold not thou, O Lord, thy tender mercies from me: thy mercy and thy truth have always upheld me.

13 For evils without number have surrounded me; my iniquities have overtaken me, and I was not able to see. They are multiplied above the hairs of my head: and my heart hath forsaken me.

14 Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me, look down, O Lord, to help me.

15 Let them be confounded and ashamed together, that seek after my soul to take it away. Let them be turned backward and be ashamed that desire evils to me.

16 Let them immediately bear their confusion, that say to me: Tis well, tis well.

17 Let all that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say always: The Lord be magnified.

18 But I am a beggar and poor: the Lord is careful for me. Thou art my helper and my protector: O my God, be not slack.

Psalm 40 in Latin

The Clementine Vulgate, public domain, where this psalm is Psalm 39.

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1 In finem. Psalmus ipsi David.

2 Exspectans exspectavi Dominum, et intendit mihi.

3 Et exaudivit preces meas, et eduxit me de lacu miseriæ et de luto fæcis. Et statuit super petram pedes meos, et direxit gressus meos.

4 Et immisit in os meum canticum novum, carmen Deo nostro. Videbunt multi, et timebunt, et sperabunt in Domino.

5 Beatus vir cujus est nomen Domini spes ejus, et non respexit in vanitates et insanias falsas.

6 Multa fecisti tu, Domine Deus meus, mirabilia tua; et cogitationibus tuis non est qui similis sit tibi. Annuntiavi et locutus sum: multiplicati sunt super numerum.

7 Sacrificium et oblationem noluisti; aures autem perfecisti mihi. Holocaustum et pro peccato non postulasti;

8 tunc dixi: Ecce venio. In capite libri scriptum est de me,

9 ut facerem voluntatem tuam. Deus meus, volui, et legem tuam in medio cordis mei.

10 Annuntiavi justitiam tuam in ecclesia magna; ecce labia mea non prohibebo: Domine, tu scisti.

11 Justitiam tuam non abscondi in corde meo; veritatem tuam et salutare tuum dixi; non abscondi misericordiam tuam et veritatem tuam a concilio multo.

12 Tu autem, Domine, ne longe facias miserationes tuas a me; misericordia tua et veritas tua semper susceperunt me.

13 Quoniam circumdederunt me mala quorum non est numerus; comprehenderunt me iniquitates meæ, et non potui ut viderem. Multiplicatæ sunt super capillos capitis mei, et cor meum dereliquit me.

14 Complaceat tibi, Domine, ut eruas me; Domine, ad adjuvandum me respice.

15 Confundantur et revereantur simul, qui quærunt animam meam ut auferant eam; convertantur retrorsum et revereantur, qui volunt mihi mala.

16 Ferant confestim confusionem suam, qui dicunt mihi: Euge, euge !

17 Exsultent et lætentur super te omnes quærentes te; et dicant semper: Magnificetur Dominus, qui diligunt salutare tuum.

18 Ego autem mendicus sum et pauper; Dominus sollicitus est mei. Adjutor meus et protector meus tu es; Deus meus, ne tardaveris.

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Psalm 40 at a glance

Verses17
Heading in the textFor the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David.
Attributed toThe heading attributes it to David and addresses it to the Chief Musician.
TypeThanksgiving and Lament
Number in Greek and Latin BiblesPsalm 39

Read Psalm 40 when you are facing

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Psalm 40 in other translations

This page prints the World English Bible and the King James Version because both are public domain. The NIV, ESV, NKJV, NLT and NASB are under copyright, so they cannot be printed in full here. You can read Psalm 40 in those translations at Bible Gateway.

Where Psalm 40 belongs

Psalms of DavidBook 1 of the Psalms

How this page was made

The psalm text comes from public domain translations and is not edited. The summary, the verse notes and the answers are written for this page from the text of the psalm itself. Where a claim goes beyond the text, it is sourced below.

Sources

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Written by

Lucas Pradella

Last checked 25 September 2026 · How pages are checked

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