KJV
Psalms 40
1¶ To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
2He 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.
3And 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.
4Blessed [is] that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.
5Many, 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.
6¶ Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.
7Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book [it is] written of me,
8I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law [is] within my heart.
9I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest.
10I 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.
11¶ Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.
12For 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.
13Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me.
14Let 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.
15Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha.
16Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified.
17But I [am] poor and needy; [yet] the Lord thinketh upon me: thou [art] my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.
Study This Passage
Key Words and Topics
These study connections are drawn from the internal BSB concordance and topical index imported into Daily Bread Intake.
Key Words in This Passage
Select a word to open the full concordance search.
Related Topics
Afflictions and Adversities: Prayer In Psalm 40:13, 17
Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me; hurry, O LORD, to help me. / But I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my helper and deliverer; O my God, do not delay.
Afflictions Made Beneficial in Exercising Our Patience Psalm 40:1
For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the LORD; He inclined to me and heard my cry.
Answers To Prayer: Received by Those Who: Wait Upon God Psalm 40:1
For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the LORD; He inclined to me and heard my cry.
Ark of the Covenant: A Type of Christ Psalm 40:8
I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your law is within my heart.”
Atonement: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Psalm 40:6, 7
Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but my ears You have opened. Burnt offerings and sin offerings You did not require. / Then I said, “Here I am, I have come—it is written about me in the scroll:
Character of Christ: Obedient to God the Father Psalm 40:8
I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your law is within my heart.”
Character of the Renewed Heart: Filled with the Law of God Psalm 40:8
I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your law is within my heart.”
Clay: Figurative Psalm 40:2
He lifted me up from the pit of despair, out of the miry clay; He set my feet upon a rock, and made my footsteps firm.
Conscience for his Adultery and the Murder of Uriah Psalm 40:11, 12
O LORD, do not withhold Your mercy from me; Your loving devotion and faithfulness will always guard me. / For evils without number surround me; my sins have overtaken me, so that I cannot see. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart has failed within me.
David: King of Israel: Repents of his Crime and Confesses his Guilt Psalm 40:1
For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the LORD; He inclined to me and heard my cry.
Decision: David Psalm 40:9, 10
I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly; behold, I do not seal my lips, as You, O LORD, do know. / I have not covered up Your righteousness in my heart; I have declared Your faithfulness and salvation; I have not concealed Your loving devotion and faithfulness from the great assembly.
Dependence Psalm 40:3, 4
He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD. / Blessed is the man who has made the LORD his trust, who has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood.
Desire: Spiritual Psalm 40:1, 8
For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the LORD; He inclined to me and heard my cry. / I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your law is within my heart.”
Ear: Bored As a Sign of Servitude Psalm 40:6
Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but my ears You have opened. Burnt offerings and sin offerings You did not require.
Faith: Exemplified Psalm 40:3, 4, 17
He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD. / Blessed is the man who has made the LORD his trust, who has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood. / But I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my helper and deliverer; O my God, do not delay.
Faith: General Scriptures Concerning Psalm 40:4
Blessed is the man who has made the LORD his trust, who has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood.
God: Faithfulness of Psalm 40:10
I have not covered up Your righteousness in my heart; I have declared Your faithfulness and salvation; I have not concealed Your loving devotion and faithfulness from the great assembly.
God: Providence of Psalm 40:5
Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders You have done, and the plans You have for us—none can compare to You—if I proclaim and declare them, they are more than I can count.
God: Truth Psalm 40:10
I have not covered up Your righteousness in my heart; I have declared Your faithfulness and salvation; I have not concealed Your loving devotion and faithfulness from the great assembly.
God: Works of Psalm 40:5
Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders You have done, and the plans You have for us—none can compare to You—if I proclaim and declare them, they are more than I can count.
Happiness of Saints in This Life is Derived From: Obedience to God Psalm 40:8
I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your law is within my heart.”
Happiness of the Righteous Psalm 40:8
I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your law is within my heart.”
Head: Parts of Mentioned: The Hair Psalm 40:12
For evils without number surround me; my sins have overtaken me, so that I cannot see. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart has failed within me.
Jesus, the Christ: Incarnation of Psalm 40:7, 8
Then I said, “Here I am, I have come—it is written about me in the scroll: / I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your law is within my heart.”
Select a topic to open the full topical search.
Bible Dictionary
Related Dictionary Terms
Explore people, places, themes, and biblical terms connected to this passage.

Commentary Insights
Study and Reflection
Explore devotional and study commentary connected to this passage.
Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
Pastoral and devotional reflections focused on spiritual formation and application.
Psalms 40:1-5 Verses 1-5
Doubts and fears about the eternal state, are a horrible pit and miry clay, and have been so to many a dear child of God. There is power enough in God to help the weakest, and grace enough to help the unworthiest of all that trust in him. The psalmist waited patiently; he continued believing, hoping, and praying. This is applicable to Christ. His agony, in the garden and on the cross, was a horrible pit and miry clay. But those that wait patiently for God do not wait in vain. Those that have been under religious melancholy, and by the grace of God have been relieved, may apply ver. #(2) very feelingly to themselves; they are brought up out of a horrible pit. Christ is the Rock on which a poor soul can alone stand fast. Where God has given stedfast hope, he expects there should be a steady, regular walk and conduct. God filled the psalmist with joy, as well as peace in believing. Multitudes, by faith beholding the sufferings and glory of Christ, have learned to fear the justice and trust in the mercy of God through Him. Many are the benefits with which we are daily loaded, both by the providence and by the grace of God.
Psalms 40:6-10 Verses 6-10
The psalmist foretells that work of wonder, redemption by our Lord Jesus Christ. The Substance must come, which is Christ, who must bring that glory to God, and that grace to man, which it was impossible the sacrifices should ever do. Observe the setting apart of our Lord Jesus to the work and office of Mediator. In the volume, or roll, of the book it was written of him. In the close rolls of the Divine decrees and counsel, the covenant of redemption was recorded. Also, in all the volumes of the Old Testament something was written of him, Joh 19:28. Now the purchase of our salvation is made, the proclamation is sent forth, calling us to come and accept it. It was preached freely and openly. Whoever undertook to preach the gospel of Christ, would be under great temptation to conceal it; but Christ, and those he calls to that work, are carried on in it. May we believe his testimony, trust his promise, and submit to his authority.
Psalms 40:11-17 Verses 11-17
The best saints see themselves undone, unless continually preserved by the grace of God. But see the frightful view the psalmist had of sin. This made the discovery of a Redeemer so welcome. In all his reflections upon each step of his life, he discovered something amiss. The sight and sense of our sins in their own colours, must distract us, if we have not at the same time some sight of a Saviour. If Christ has triumphed over our spiritual enemies, then we, through him, shall be more than conquerors. This may encourage all that seek God and love his salvation, to rejoice in him, and to praise him. No griefs nor poverty can render those miserable who fear the Lord. Their God, and all that he has or does, is the ground of their joy. The prayer of faith can unlock his fulness, which is adapted to all their wants. The promises are sure, the moment of fulfilment hastens forward. He who once came in great humility, shall come again in glorious majesty.