Psalms 40:1

For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.

1 ^[a]I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry.

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Psalms 40:1 in Other Translations

KJV

1 I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

ESV

1 I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry.

NLT

1 I waited patiently for the LORD to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry.

MSG

1 I waited and waited and waited for God. At last he looked; finally he listened.

CSB

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

Psalms 40:1 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 40:1

I waited patiently for the Lord
Or "waiting I waited" {i}; which denotes continuance, constancy, and patience; and which Christ exercised in the garden, when he submitted himself entirely to the will of God; and on the cross, when he continued in sure hope and firm expectation of his help and assistance, though he was for a while forsaken by him; see ( Isaiah 50:7-9 ) ;

and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry;
both in the garden, by delivering him from fear of death; and on the cross, by upholding, helping, and assisting him, by carrying him through his sufferings and death, and raising him from the dead; see ( Isaiah 49:8 ) ( Hebrews 5:7 ) .

FOOTNOTES:

F9 (ytywq hwq) "expectando expectavi", Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus Musculus, Rivetus, Gejerus, Michaelis; so Ainsworth.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Psalms 40:1 In-Context

1 I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry.

2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.

3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORDand put their trust in him.

4 Blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods.

5 Many, LORD my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare.

Cross References 2

1. S Psalms 37:7; Psalms 27:14
2. Psalms 6:9; S Psalms 31:22; Psalms 34:15; Psalms 116:1; Psalms 145:19

Footnotes 1

[a]. In Hebrew texts 40:1-17 is numbered 40:2-18.