Psalm 40
1I waited patiently upon the Lord;
he stooped to me and heard my cry.
2He lifted me out of the desolate pit, out of the mire and clay;
he set my feet upon a high cliff and made my footing sure.
3He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God;
many shall see, and stand in awe,
and put their trust in the Lord.
4Happy are they who trust in the Lord!
they do not resort to evil spirits or turn to false gods.
5Great things are they that you have done, O Lord my God!
how great your wonders and your plans for us!
there is none who can be compared with you.
6Oh, that I could make them known and tell them!
but they are more than I can count.
7In sacrifice and offering you take no pleasure
(you have given me ears to hear you);
8Burnt-offering and sin-offering you have not required,
and so I said, “Behold, I come.
9In the roll of the book it is written concerning me:
‘I love to do your will, O my God;
your law is deep in my heart.'”
10I proclaimed righteousness in the great congregation;
behold, I did not restrain my lips;
and that, O Lord, you know.
11I Your righteousness have I not hidden in my heart;
I have spoken of your faithfulness and your deliverance;
I have not concealed your love and faithfulness from the
great congregation.
12You are the Lord;
do not withhold your compassion from me;
let your love and your faithfulness keep me safe for ever,
13For innumerable troubles have crowded upon me;
my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see;
they are more in number than the hairs of my head,
and my heart fails me.
14Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me;
O Lord, make haste to help me.
15Let them be ashamed and altogether dismayed
who seek after my life to destroy it;
let them draw back and be disgraced
who take pleasure in my misfortune.
16Let those who say “Aha!” and gloat over me be confounded,
because they are ashamed.
17Let all who seek you rejoice in you and be glad;
let those who love your salvation continually say,
“Great is the Lord!”
18Though I am poor and afflicted,
the Lord will have regard for me.
19You are my helper and my deliverer;
do not tarry, O my God.
A Collect for Fridays
Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.
