1 For the leader. A psalm of David. 2 I waited, waited for the LORD; who bent down and heard my cry, 3 Drew me out of the pit of destruction, out of the mud of the swamp, Set my feet upon rock, steadied my steps, 4 1 And put a new song in my mouth, a hymn to our God. Many shall look on in awe and they shall trust in the LORD. 5 Happy those whose trust is the LORD, who turn not to idolatry or to those who stray after falsehood. 6 How numerous, O LORD, my God, you have made your wondrous deeds! And in your plans for us there is none to equal you. Should I wish to declare or tell them, too many are they to recount. 7 Sacrifice and offering you do not want; but ears open to obedience you gave me. Holocausts and sin-offerings you do not require; 8 so I said, “Here I am; your commands for me are written in the scroll. 9 To do your will is my delight; my God, your law is in my heart!” 10 I announced your deed to a great assembly; I did not restrain my lips; you, LORD, are my witness. 11 Your deed I did not hide within my heart; your loyal deliverance I have proclaimed. I made no secret of your enduring kindness to a great assembly. 12 LORD, do not withhold your compassion from me; may your enduring kindness ever preserve me. 13 For all about me are evils beyond count; my sins so overcome me I cannot see. They are more than the hairs of my head; my courage fails me. 14 LORD, graciously rescue me! Come quickly to help me, LORD! 15 Put to shame and confound all who seek to take my life. Turn back in disgrace those who desire my ruin. 16 Let those who say “Aha!” know dismay and shame. 17 But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you. May those who long for your help always say, “The LORD be glorified.” 18 Though I am afflicted and poor, the Lord keeps me in mind. You are my help and deliverer; my God, do not delay!
ARISE! LET US BE GOING! 
What was the context of this request?
It certainly seems appropriate. A couple of others would be as well.
The Senators who engineered this disgrace should be expelled from Congress.
Many of my friends in Texas are praying for you and your family. We trust that God will deliver you from the evil ones who are determined to carry out their evil schemes against you. May God bless you and grant you His peace through this difficult time. We will continue to pray for God’s will to be done.
Mrs. Kavanaugh – I watched you sit behind your husband during those disgusting hearings with sadness but also a deep love for Justice Kavanaugh. You are both strong and inspirational people. I admire your continuous love for your husband. I am sorry your family had to endure what happened. I hope it will subside soon. Stay strong and keep that love in your eyes that you had during the “search and destroy” efforts of the Democrats. They showed how low people will go to get and/or retain power. Wish your husband the very best. I can’t find an email address for him. Thank you for helping us pray for him, you and your girls, and the nation through the psalm you have posted here.
Whew, thank you for helping us to pray this Psalm for and with the Kavanaugh’s.
Amen! Our Lady,Queen of Heaven and earth, please intercede for our good Judge and his family. On this feast of the Archangels,come to his aid. St Michael vanquish the devil and all his cohorts who are attacking this child of God.
I am grateful for the faith of the Kavanaugh family. I pray for them each day, that God will sustain them though such cruel attacks. Even, Jesus Christ our Lord was accused and crucified, but in the end he rose triumphant and made the world a better place.
I have sent an email to many friends and family and my church to lift up the beautiful Kavanaugh family in prayer (Psalm40) for the next week. I think many have done the same around the Nation.
I like this translation very much, especially: “I waited, waited for the LORD…”
Old NAB
I’m praying for you, your husband and precious family! Everything will be alright. The Lord has His Hand upon your husband. God Bless You!
Am I right in thinking that NAB is North American Bible? Just a guess.
Yes. Old is better.
Here too in my opinion. In my missal which is dated 1963 ‘all passages from Sacred Scripture have been translated by Mgr Ronald Knox’ and it is the translation I prefer. Mgr Knox was a great friend of my father for many years. They were both born in the same year and Knox’s father – the Anglican Bishop of Manchester – was my father’s ‘boss’ when he was the assistant organist in the cathedral there.
In the last conversation I had with my father before his death in 1965, he told me he and Knox had once decided to write an operetta together – my father would do the music and Knox would write the words. However he told me the hierarchy put a stop to that idea and forbade it!
Pelerin, what a beautiful piece of family history. I wish they had been allowed to write that operetta.
We used Msgr Knox’s translation of the bible at the secondary school I attended in the 1960s, and it is one of the two translations I later used when I was teaching. The other was the Douai Rheims, Challenor version, also from my childhood. Both are available free online now, which is a blessing as I find back lit pages are easier to read as vision deteriorates with age.
For anyone interested, the Knox Bible with the Greek and Latin alongside can be found at newadvent.org
So do I Aussie Mum! and I wish I had asked my father what the subject of the planned operetta was to be. I do wonder if there is any correspondence in the Church archives regarding their request or whether it would have long ago been destroyed.
Mgr Knox certainly was a remarkably talented man and I think I have read somewhere that he translated the Bible single handedly though not sure if this is correct.
I think that’s right, pelerin. I recall Fulton Sheen’s story about Knox.
Thanks Father for the information – I did not know of Fulton Sheen’s interest in Knox’s work so plenty to look up now. I see from wikipedia that Knox ‘served in Military Intelligence.’ If this is correct does that mean he was a spy?!
Being a spy doesn’t necessarily have bad connotations! Perhaps yes. Sheen and Knox wanted to co-found a Catholic University.
Pelerin, I too am wondering if there is correspondence about that proposed operetta in the Church’s archives. Have you thought of phoning or visiting the chancery office in the diocese where your father and Msgr Knox resided and explain you are seeking some historical information. They may be able to help.
Thanks for the prompt Aussie Mum which has got me curious again about finding out more. I have contacted the Westminster Archives and have received a reply from the archivist who is going to contact someone who may know for me.
I’m so glad Pelerin. Keep digging!
I hope that my comment may reach Brett’s wife so she will know that my prayers are with her. Thank you for helping me to read Psalm 40 and pray for you. I hope that within the next 48 hours that Brett will be confirmed and sit on the Supreme Court for years to come!