Psalm 40 is the 40th psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "I waited patiently for the LORD". The Book of Psalms is part of the third section of the Hebrew Bible, and a book of the Christian Old Testament. In the slightly different numbering system used in the Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate translations of the Bible, this psalm is Psalm 39. In Latin, it is known by the incipit, "Expectans expectavi Dominum". It is described by the Jerusalem Bible as a "song of praise and prayer for help". Psalm 40 is used in both Jewish and Christian liturgies. It has been set to music, Baroque settings and U2's song "40" from their 1983 album, War. Two composers used the beginning for symphonic compositions, Mendelssohn's Lobgesang and Stravinsky's Symphony of Psalms.

Text

Hebrew

The following table shows the Hebrew text of the Psalm with vowels alongside an English translation based upon the JPS 1917 translation (now in the public domain).

King James Version

Structure

The first part of the Psalm (verses 1-11) is one in the series of psalms of thanksgiving of an individual. Verses 13-18, possibly set originally in an independent Psalm context, are virtually identical to Psalm 70. This part belongs more in the group of psalms of lament. Matthew Henry divides the psalm into three sections:

Interpretation

Some writers see verses 6-9 as prophetic of Jesus, or of the messiah generally. John Wesley saw it as a prayer of salvation.

Uses

Judaism

New Testament

Verses 6-8 are quoted in Hebrews. This phrase "I delight to do your will" is also contrasted with the verse in the same Psalm where "They delight to do me harm". This adds to this imagery portending the plots against and betrayal of Jesus. The following Psalm 41 is also seen by the New Testament to portend the betrayal of Jesus by Judas.

Book of Common Prayer

In the Church of England's Book of Common Prayer, this psalm is appointed to be read on the morning of the eighth day of the month, as well as at Matins on Good Friday.

Music

Heinrich Schütz wrote a setting of a paraphrase of Psalm 40 in German, "Ich harrete des Herren", SWV 137, for the Becker Psalter, published first in 1628. Mendelssohn used the beginning in German as the text for the fifth movement from his Lobgesang. The same verses in Latin form the text of the second movement of Stravinsky's Symphony of Psalms. The Psalm was used in U2's song "40", the final track from their 1983 album, War. A song by The Mountain Goats titled "Psalm 40:2" appears on their 2009 album The Life of the World to Come, inspired by this verse.