Psalms 40; Psalms 41; Psalms 42

1 I waited patiently for the Lord. He turned to me and heard my cry.

2 He lifted me out of the pit of destruction, out of the sticky mud. He stood me on a rock and made my feet steady.

3 He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many people will see this and worship him. Then they will trust the Lord.

4 Happy is the person who trusts the Lord, who doesn't turn to those who are proud or to those who worship false gods.

5 Lord my God, you have done many miracles. Your plans for us are many. If I tried to tell them all, there would be too many to count.

6 You do not want sacrifices and offerings. But you have made a hole in my ear to show that my body and life are yours. You do not ask for burnt offerings and sacrifices to take away sins.

7 Then I said, "Look, I have come. It is written about me in the book.

8 My God, I want to do what you want. Your teachings are in my heart."

9 I will tell about your goodness in the great meeting of your people. Lord, you know my lips are not silent.

10 I do not hide your goodness in my heart; I speak about your loyalty and salvation. I do not hide your love and truth from the people in the great meeting.

11 Lord, do not hold back your mercy from me; let your love and truth always protect me.

12 Troubles have surrounded me; there are too many to count. My sins have caught me so that I cannot see a way to escape. I have more sins than hairs on my head, and I have lost my courage.

13 Please, Lord, save me. Hurry, Lord, to help me.

14 People are trying to kill me. Shame them and disgrace them. People want to hurt me. Let them run away in disgrace.

15 People are making fun of me. Let them be shamed into silence.

16 But let those who follow you be happy and glad. They love you for saving them. May they always say, "Praise the Lord!"

17 Lord, because I am poor and helpless, please remember me. You are my helper and savior. My God, do not wait. For the director of music. A psalm of David.

1 Happy is the person who thinks about the poor. When trouble comes, the Lord will save him.

2 The Lord will protect him and spare his life and will bless him in the land. He will not let his enemies take him.

3 The Lord will give him strength when he is sick, and he will make him well again.

4 I said, "Lord, have mercy on me. Heal me, because I have sinned against you."

5 My enemies are saying evil things about me. They say, "When will he die and be forgotten?"

6 Some people come to see me, but they lie. They just come to get bad news. Then they go and gossip.

7 All my enemies whisper about me and think the worst about me.

8 They say, "He has a terrible disease. He will never get out of bed again."

9 My best and truest friend, who ate at my table, has even turned against me.

10 Lord, have mercy on me. Give me strength so I can pay them back.

11 Because my enemies do not defeat me, I know you are pleased with me.

12 Because I am innocent, you support me and will let me be with you forever.

13 Praise the Lord, the God of Israel. He has always been, and he will always be. Amen and amen.

1 As a deer thirsts for streams of water, so I thirst for you, God.

2 I thirst for the living God. When can I go to meet with him?

3 Day and night, my tears have been my food. People are always saying, "Where is your God?"

4 When I remember these things, I speak with a broken heart. I used to walk with the crowd and lead them to God's Temple with songs of praise.

5 Why am I so sad? Why am I so upset? and keep praising him, my Savior and

6 my God. I am very sad. So I remember you where the Jordan River begins, near the peaks of Hermon and Mount Mizar.

7 Troubles have come again and again, sounding like waterfalls. Your waves are crashing all around me.

8 The Lord shows his true love every day. At night I have a song, and I pray to my living God.

9 I say to God, my Rock, "Why have you forgotten me? Why am I sad and troubled by my enemies?"

10 My enemies' insults make me feel as if my bones were broken. They are always saying, "Where is your God?"

11 Why am I so sad? Why am I so upset? and keep praising him, my Savior and my God.