God Sustains His Servant
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.
1 I waited patiently and expectantly for the Lord; And He inclined to me and heard my cry.
2 He brought me up out of a horrible pit [of tumult and of destruction], out of the miry clay,
And He set my feet upon a rock, steadying my footsteps and establishing my path.
3 He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; many will see and fear [with great reverence] and will trust confidently in the Lord.
4 Blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God] is the man who makes the Lord his trust, and does not regard the proud nor those who lapse into lies.
5 Many, O Lord my God, are the wonderful works which You have done, And Your thoughts toward us; there is none to compare with You. If I would declare and speak of your wonders, they would be too many to count.
6 Sacrifice and meal offering You do not desire, nor do You delight in them; You have opened my ears and given me the capacity to hear [and obey Your word]; burnt offerings and sin offerings You do not require.
7 Then I said, “Behold, I come [to the throne]; in the scroll of the book it is written of me.
8 “I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your law is within my heart.”
9 I have proclaimed good news of righteousness [and the joy that comes from obedience to You] in the great assembly; behold, I will not restrain my lips [from proclaiming Your righteousness], as You know, O Lord.
10 I have not concealed Your righteousness within my heart; I have proclaimed Your faithfulness and Your salvation. I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth from the great assembly.
11 Do not withhold Your compassion and tender mercy from me, O Lord; Your lovingkindness and Your truth will continually preserve me.
12 For innumerable evils have encompassed me; my sins 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 save me; O Lord, make haste to help me.
14 Let those be ashamed and humiliated together who seek my life to destroy it; let those be turned back [in defeat] and dishonored who delight in my hurt.
15 Let those be appalled and desolate because of their shame who say to me, “Aha, aha [rejoicing in my misfortune]!”
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 Even though I am afflicted and needy, still the Lord takes thought and is mindful of me. You are my help and my rescuer. O my God, do not delay.
Psalm 40
Unapologetically Marcia 