40 For the Pure and Shining One
A song of poetic praise, by King David
¹ I waited and waited and waited some more,
    patiently, knowing God would come through for me.
    Then, at last, he bent down and listened to my cry.
² He stooped down to lift me out of danger
    from the desolate pit I was in,
    out of the muddy mess I had fallen into.
    Now he’s lifted me up into a firm, secure place
    and steadied me while I walk along his ascending path.
³ A new song for a new day rises up in me
    every time I think about how he breaks through for me!
    Ecstatic praise pours out of my mouth until
    everyone hears how God has set me free.
    Many will see his miracles;
    they’ll stand in awe of God and fall in love with him!
⁴ Blessing after blessing comes to those who love and trust the Lord.
    They will not fall away,
    for they refuse to listen to the lies of the proud.
⁵ O Lord, our God, no one can compare with you.
    Such wonderful works and miracles are all found with you!
    And you think of us all the time
    with your countless expressions of love—
    far exceeding our expectations!
⁶ It’s not sacrifices that really move your heart.
    Burnt offerings, sin offerings—that’s not what brings you joy.
    But when you open my ears and speak deeply to me,
    I become your willing servant, your prisoner of love for life.
⁷ So I said, “Here I am! I’m coming to you as a sacrifice,
    for in the prophetic scrolls of your book
    you have written about me.
⁸ I delight to fulfill your will, my God,
    for your living words are written upon the pages of my heart.”
⁹ I tell everyone everywhere the truth of your righteousness.
    And you know I haven’t held back in telling the message to all.
¹⁰ I don’t keep it a secret or hide the truth.
    I preach of your faithfulness and kindness,
    proclaiming your extravagant love to the largest crowd I can find!
¹¹ So Lord, don’t hold back your love or withhold
    your tender mercies from me.
    Keep me in your truth and let your compassion overflow to me
    no matter what I face.
¹² Evil surrounds me; problems greater than I can solve
    come one after another.
    Without you, I know I can’t make it.
    My sins are so many!
    I’m so ashamed to lift my face to you.
    For my guilt grabs me and stings my soul
    until I am weakened and spent.
¹³ Please, Lord! Come quickly and rescue me!
    Take pleasure in showing me your favor and restore me.
¹⁴ Let all who seek my life be humiliated!
    Let them be confused and ashamed, God.
    Scatter those who wish me evil; they just want me dead.
¹⁵ Scoff at every scoffer and cause them all to be utter failures.
    Let them be ashamed and horrified by their complete defeat.
¹⁶ But let all who passionately seek you
    erupt with excitement and joy over what you’ve done!
    Let all your lovers rejoice continually in the Savior,^[c] saying,
    “How great and glorious is our God!”
¹⁷ Lord, in my place of weakness and need, I ask again:
    Will you come and help me?
    I know I’m always in your thoughts.
    You are my true Savior and hero,
    so don’t delay to deliver me now, for you are my God.

⁴ How blessed is the man who has made the Lord his trust,
And has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood.
⁵ Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders which You have done,
And Your thoughts toward us;
There is none to compare with You.
If I would declare and speak of them,
They would be too numerous to count.

⁶ Sacrifice and meal offering You have not desired;
My ears You have opened;
Burnt offering and sin offering You have not required.
⁷ Then I said, “Behold, I come;
In the scroll of the book it is ^[f]written of me.
⁸ I delight to do Your will, O my God;
Your Law is within my heart.”

⁹ I have proclaimed glad tidings of righteousness in the great congregation;
Behold, I will not restrain my lips,
O Lord, You know.
¹⁰ I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart;
I have spoken of Your faithfulness and Your salvation;
I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth from the great congregation.

¹¹ You, O Lord, will not withhold Your compassion from me;
Your lovingkindness and Your truth will continually preserve me.
¹² For evils beyond number have surrounded me;
My iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to see;
They are more numerous than the hairs of my head,
And my heart has failed me.

¹³ Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me;
Make haste, O Lord, to help me.
¹⁴ Let those be ashamed and humiliated together
Who seek my life to destroy it;
Let those be turned back and dishonored
Who delight in my hurt.
¹⁵ Let those be appalled because of their shame
Who say to me, “Aha, aha!”
¹⁶ Let all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You;
Let those who love Your salvation say continually,
“The Lord be magnified!”
¹⁷ Since I am afflicted and needy,
Let the Lord be mindful of me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
Do not delay, O my God.