The big picture
Psalms 40 opens in verse 1 with “I waited patiently for the LORD ; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.”, reaches its middle movement near verse 9 with “I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my…”, and closes in verse 17 with “But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my…” Repeated or prominent terms include LORD, heart, offering, congregation, continually. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Psalms · King James Version · 17Psalms 40:1-6
1–6: I waited patiently for the LORD ; and he inclined unto me, and heard my…
Psalms 40:1–6 opens with “I waited patiently for the LORD ; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.” and reaches “Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by LORD, offering, trust.
Context that brings the passage to life
“I waited patiently for the LORD ; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.” The line’s distinctive content terms include inclined, LORD, patiently. Its relationship to verses 2 shows what work it does in this passage.
“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…” The line’s distinctive content terms include clay, established, feet. Its relationship to verses 1 and 3 shows what work it does in this passage.
Psalms 40:1-6
King James Version1I 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.
6Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.
Psalms 40:7-12
7–12: Said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,
Psalms 40:7–12 opens with “Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,” and reaches “For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by heart, congregation, LORD.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,” The line’s distinctive content terms include book, volume, written. Its relationship to verses 8 shows what work it does in this passage.
“I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.
Psalms 40:7-12
King James Version7Then 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.
11Withhold 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.
Psalms 40:13-17
13–17: Be pleased, O LORD , to deliver me: O LORD , make haste to help me.
Psalms 40:13–17 opens with “Be pleased, O LORD , to deliver me: O LORD , make haste to help me.” and reaches “But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by LORD, help, seek.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Be pleased, O LORD , to deliver me: O LORD , make haste to help me.” The line’s distinctive content terms include LORD, deliver, haste. Its relationship to verses 14 shows what work it does in this passage.
Psalms 40:13-17
King James Version13Be 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.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Psalms 40:1 begins with “I waited patiently for the LORD ; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.”
Where the chapter turns
Psalms 40:7 forms a natural hinge: “Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,”
The final note
Psalms 40:17 leaves the reader with “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.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words LORD, heart, offering, congregation, continually, help help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What ordinary act begins Joseph's service?
He notices that the officials look troubled and asks why.
How does the ending challenge easy success stories?
His interpretations are fulfilled, but his personal appeal is forgotten.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
- hath
- has
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.