Bible / Psalms
Psalms 39
Douay-Rheims Bible, Challoner revision (1749–1752), the traditional Catholic English Bible, translated from the Latin Vulgate. If you read a modern Bible, this is the same Scripture in older English; some names are spelled differently (Cesarea for Caesarea, Apocalypse for Revelation). About this translation
1 Unto the end, a psalm for David himself.
2 With expectation I have waited for the Lord, and he was attentive to me.
3 And he heard my prayers, and brought me out of the pit of misery and the mire of dregs. And he set my feet upon a rock, and directed my steps.
4 And he put a new canticle into my mouth, a song to our God. Many shall see, and shall fear: and they shall hope in the Lord.
5 Blessed is the man whose trust is in the name of the Lord; and who hath not had regard to vanities, and lying follies.
6 Thou hast multiplied thy wonderful works, O Lord my God: and in thy thoughts there is no one like to thee. I have declared and I have spoken they are multiplied above number.
7 Sacrifice and oblation thou didst not desire; but thou hast pierced ears for me. Burnt offering and sin offering thou didst not require:
8 Then said I, Behold I come. In the head of the book it is written of me
9 That I should do thy will: O my God, I have desired it, and thy law in the midst of my heart.
10 I have declared thy justice in a great church, lo, I will not restrain my lips: O Lord, thou knowest it.
11 I have not hid thy justice within my heart: I have declared thy truth and thy salvation. I have not concealed thy mercy and thy truth from a great council.
12 Withhold not thou, O Lord, thy tender mercies from me: thy mercy and thy truth have always upheld me.
13 For evils without number have surrounded me; my iniquities have overtaken me, and I was not able to see. They are multiplied above the hairs of my head: and my heart hath forsaken me.
14 Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me: look down, O Lord, to help me.
15 Let them be confounded and ashamed together, that seek after my soul to take it away. Let them be turned backward and be ashamed that desire evils to me.
16 Let them immediately bear their confusion, that say to me: ’Tis well, ’tis well.
17 Let all that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say always: The Lord be magnified.
18 But I am a beggar and poor: the Lord is careful for me. Thou art my helper and my protector: O my God, be not slack.
This chapter in the Catechism and the early Church
Where the Catechism of the Catholic Church cites these verses (from its footnotes on vatican.va), and where the earliest Church Fathers quote them (Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1, public domain). Short quotes only; follow the links for the full text. The Catechism uses modern verse numbers and psalm numbers (one higher than Douay-Rheims for most psalms), so these are listed by chapter.
- Psalm 40:2 in modern BiblesCCC 2657
Read the Catechism
- CCC 2657 “The Holy Spirit, who instructs us to celebrate the liturgy in expectation of Christ's return, teaches us - to pray in hope.…”
- Psalm 40:5 in modern BiblesCCC 150
Read the Catechism
- CCC 150 “Faith is first of all a personal adherence of man to God. At the same time, and inseparably, it is a free…”
- Psalm 40:6 in modern Bibles
Read the Fathers
“Behold, a ready obedience is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams." David also says: "Sacrifice and oblation Thou didst not desire, but mine ears hast Thou perfected; burnt-offerings also for sin Thou hast not required.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book IV, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XVII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
- Psalm 40:7 in modern BiblesCCC 2824
Read the Catechism
- CCC 2824 “In Christ, and through his human will, the will of the Father has been perfectly fulfilled once for all. Jesus said on…”
A modern English Catholic translation will be added once its publisher grants permission.