Psalms – Chapter 40

Old Testament14 Verses

1Unto the end, a psalm for David himself.

2Blessed is he that understandeth concerning the needy and the poor: the Lord will deliver him in the evil day.

3The Lord preserve him and give him life, and make him blessed upon the earth: and deliver him not up to the will of his enemies.

4The Lord help him on his bed of sorrow: thou hast turned all his couch in his sickness.

5I said: O Lord, be thou merciful to me: heal my soul, for I have sinned against thee.

6My enemies have spoken evils against me: when shall he die and his name perish?

7And if he came in to see me, he spoke vain things: his heart gathered together iniquity to itself. He went out and spoke to the same purpose.

8All my enemies whispered together against me: they devised evils to me.

9They determined against me an unjust word: shall he that sleepeth rise again no more?

10For even the man of my peace, in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, hath greatly supplanted me.

11But thou, O Lord, have mercy on me, and raise me up again: and I will requite them.

12By this I know, that thou hast had a good will for me: because my enemy shall not rejoice over me.

13But thou hast upheld me by reason of my innocence: and hast established me in thy sight for ever.

14Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel from eternity to eternity. So be it. So be it.

Reflection for Today

Psalms Chapter 40 belongs to the Old Testament and forms part of the Catholic canon proclaimed in the liturgy of the Word.

Through typology, the Church often reads Old Testament passages as preparing for Christ, while New Testament passages reveal Him explicitly. the Psalms are the prayer book of the Church, prayed daily in the Liturgy of the Hours (CIC 2585-2589). Here the believer is invited to ponder poverty of spirit and detachment.

Let Psalms Chapter 40 deepen your love for the Eucharist, where the Word made flesh continues to feed His people. The same Christ who speaks in Scripture offers Himself sacramentally on the altar.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Deepen your understanding with these related articles