Psalm-40

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Tanakh versions:

Throughout this site I may use any of the following three versions of the TaNaKh: 1. “Jewish Publication Society” (JPS-1917), 2. Mechon-Mamre.org” (MEC), and 3. “Sefaria.org” (SEF).

Colour coded details of the - TaNaKh:

1. Torah = History & Law, 2. Nevi’im = The Prophets. 3. *Ketuvim = all other Writings.

*The Ketuvim - Includes, Poetical books - Psalms, Proverbs, Job, the Megillot, or Scrolls - Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations of Jeremiah, Ecclesiastes, and Esther, prophecy of Daniel, and history of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles I & II.

Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold

wondrous things out of Thy Law!

Tehillim - Psalm 119:18..

(JPS-1917 version of the Tanakh).

Please Note: Some alterations or (additions) have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, having been corrected like it once was pre the “Masoretic Text”.

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Remember the following truth from our beloved Torah!

“Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM IT, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem, which I command you”. Davarim - Deuteronomy 4:2. (JPS-1917).

However, sadly both the later priests as well as our rabbis of long ago have shamefully disobeyed this command of אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם קָדוֹשׁוֹ - ‘Baruch Shem Kadosho’ – ‘Blessed be His Holy Name!’

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“Tehillim - Psalm 40”

With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

Introduction:

Psalm 40 is a thanksgiving lament of David that moves from rescue and new song to testimony, ethical resolve, and a plea for continued help; it pairs personal deliverance with public witness and trust in אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s (God’s) justice.

Let us now read Tehillim-Psalm Chapter 40: (JPS-1917 version of the Tanakh).

1. “For the Leader. A Psalm of David.
2. I waited patiently for יְהוָה - the LORD; and He inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
3. He brought me up also out of the tumultuous pit, out of the miry clay; and He set my feet upon a rock, He established my goings.
4. And He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our אֱלֹהִים - Elohim; many shall see, and fear, and shall trust in יְהוָה - the LORD.
5. Happy is the man that hath made יְהוָה - the LORD his trust, and hath not turned unto the arrogant, nor unto such as fall away treacherously.
6. Many things hast Thou done, O יְהוָה אֱלֹהַי - LORD my Elohim, even Thy wonderful works, and Thy thoughts toward us; there is none to be compared unto Thee! If I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be told.
7. Sacrifice and meal-offering Thou hast no delight in; mine ears hast Thou opened;
burnt-offering and sin-offering hast Thou not required.
8. Then said I: ‘Lo, I am come with the roll of a book which is prescribed for me;
9. I delight to do Thy will, O my אֱלֹהִים - Elohim; yea, Thy law is in my inmost parts’.
10. I have preached righteousness in the great congregation, lo, I did not refrain my lips;
O יְהוָה - LORD, Thou knowest.
11. I have not hid Thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared Thy faithfulness and Thy salvation; I have not concealed Thy mercy and Thy truth from the great congregation.
12. Thou, O יְהוָה - LORD, wilt not withhold Thy compassions from me;
let Thy mercy and Thy truth continually preserve me.
13. For innumerable evils have compassed me about, mine iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart hath failed me.
14. Be pleased, O יְהוָה - LORD, to deliver me; O יְהוָה - LORD, make haste to help me.
15. Let them be ashamed and abashed together that seek after my soul to sweep it away;
let them be turned backward and brought to confusion that delight in my hurt.
16. Let them be appalled by reason of their shame that say unto me: ‘Aha, aha’.
17. Let all those that seek Thee rejoice and be glad in Thee; let such as love Thy salvation say continually: ‘יְהוָה - the LORD be magnified’.
18. But, as for me, that am poor and needy, יְהוָה - the LORD will account it unto me; Thou art my help and my deliverer; O my אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, tarry not.

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Let us now view the ‘verse by verse’ item with brief explanations:

Verse 1. “For the Leader. A Psalm of David”.

Explanation: Superscription sets liturgical use and Davidic authorship.

Verse 2. “I waited patiently for יְהוָה - the LORD; and He inclined unto me, and heard my cry”.

Explanation: Patient waiting is rewarded by אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s attentive response.

Verse 3. “He brought me up also out of the tumultuous pit, out of the miry clay; and He set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings”.

Explanation: Rescue imagery: from mire to firm footing—salvation as re‑establishment.

Verse 4. “And He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our אֱלֹהִים - Elohim; many shall see, and fear, and shall trust in יְהוָה - the LORD”.

Explanation: Deliverance produces public praise that leads others to trust.

Verse 5. “Happy is the man that hath made יְהוָה - the LORD his trust, and hath not turned unto the arrogant, nor unto such as fall away treacherously”.

Explanation: Beatitude linking blessedness to steadfast trust and moral separation.

Verse 6. “Many things hast Thou done, O יְהוָה - LORD my אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, even Thy wonderful works, and Thy thoughts toward us; there is none to be compared unto Thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be told”.

Explanation: Reflection on אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s abundant, ineffable deeds, reason for praise.

Verse 7. “Sacrifice and meal-offering Thou hast no delight in; mine ears hast Thou opened; burnt-offering and sin-offering hast Thou not required”.

Explanation: Moves from cultic forms to ethical hearing אֱלֹהִים - Elohim values obedience over ritual alone.

Verse 8. “Then said I: Lo, I come; in the roll of the book it is written of me”;

Explanation: The speaker accepts אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s will as recorded destiny, willing obedience.

Verse 9. “To do Thy will, O my אֱלֹהִים - Elohim; yea, Thy law is within my heart”.

Explanation: Internalized Torah obedience as heartfelt, not merely external observance.

Verse 10. “I have declared righteousness in the great congregation; lo, I will not refrain my lips, O יְהוָה - LORD, Thou knowest”.

Explanation: Public proclamation of righteousness follows private transformation.

Verse 11. “I have not hid Thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared Thy faithfulness and Thy salvation; I have not concealed Thy loving-kindness and Thy truth from the great congregation”.

Explanation: Repeats commitment to open testimony about אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s faithfulness.

Verse 12. “Withhold not Thou Thy tender mercies from me, O יְהוָה - LORD; let Thy lovingkindness and Thy truth continually preserve me”.

Explanation: Petition for ongoing mercy and preservation despite past deliverance.

Verse 13. “For evils without number 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 my head; and my heart hath failed me”.

Explanation: Confession of pressure from enemies and personal weakness, honest vulnerability.

Verse 14. “Be pleased, O יְהוָה - LORD, to deliver me; make haste, O יְהוָה - LORD, to help me”.

Explanation: Urgent plea for renewed rescue, speed emphasized.

Verse 15. “Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be turned backward and brought to confusion that devise my hurt”.

Explanation: Importunity for vindication against persecutors.

Verse 16. “Let them be turned back for a reward of their shame that say: Aha, aha!”

Explanation: Calls for reversal of enemies’ gloating poetic justice.

Verse 17. “Let all those that seek Thee rejoice and be glad in Thee; and let such as love Thy salvation say continually: יְהוָה - the LORD be magnified”.

Explanation: Shifts from personal plea to communal doxology, invites shared praise.

Verse 18. “But I am poor and needy; yet יְהוָה - the LORD thinketh upon me: Thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my אֱלֹהִים - Elohim”.

Explanation: Final humility and renewed trust; urgent request that אֱלֹהִים - Elohim not delay.

My Closing message:

Psalm 40 models a spiritual arc: patient waiting, dramatic rescue, new song and public testimony ethical obedience renewed petition. Deliverance should lead to heartfelt obedience and public witness, while honest dependence continues in times of need!

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This site was originally created, for those who desired to return to our blessed and wonderful faith. Thus be wise and work on your faith and pray at least two or three times a day (if possible) and always seek our beloved אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance, for His love is always with us, especially when we seek Him, blessed be He! However this site has become very much a teaching site with hundreds of studies!

Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be He, said the following via several of our prophets...

“Return unto Me, and I will return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD of hosts”. Mal’a’chi - Malachi 3:7. (JPS).

And Remember ...

Enjoy your Sabbath Rest, Shabbat Shalom!

אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, בְּחֻקּוֹתַי לֵכוּ; וְאֶת-מִשְׁפָּטַי שִׁמְרוּ, וַעֲשׂוּ אוֹתָם

וְאֶת-שַׁבְּתוֹתַי, קַדֵּשׁוּ; וְהָיוּ לְאוֹת, בֵּינִי וּבֵינֵיכֶם-לָדַעַת, כִּי אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם

“I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD your Eloheichem; walk in My statutes, and keep Mine ordinances, and do them; and hallow My Sabbaths, and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that ye may know that I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD your Eloheichem”. Yechezkel - Ezekiel 20:19-20. (JPS).

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“Hebraic Studies” motto is as follows;

“The More Torah, the More Life”

For אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, Blessed be His Sanctified Name,

He is the one who gave us our Life!”

May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD of hosts. be with you, and please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as well as the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts, and continue saying your daily תְּפִלָּה - Tefeelah’s (Prayers) and regular בְּרָכָה - Be’ra’chah’s (blessings) before food and drinks, etc!

שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!

Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

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