詩篇40:1-17

40:1 （大衛的詩，交與伶長。）我曾耐性等候耶和華；他垂聽我的呼求。
40:2 他從禍坑裡，從淤泥中，把我拉上來，使我的腳立在磐石上，使我腳步穩當。
40:3 他使我口唱新歌，就是讚美我們上帝的話。許多人必看見而懼怕，並要倚靠耶和華。
40:4 那倚靠耶和華、不理會狂傲和偏向虛假之輩的，這人便為有福！
40:5 耶和華─我的上帝啊，你所行的奇事，並你向我們所懷的意念甚多，不能向你陳明。若要陳明，其事不可勝數。
40:6 祭物和禮物，你不喜悅；你已經開通我的耳朵。燔祭和贖罪祭非你所要。
40:7 那時我說：看哪，我來了！我的事在經卷上已經記載了。
40:8 我的上帝啊，我樂意照你的旨意行；你的律法在我心裡。
40:9 我在大會中宣傳公義的佳音；我必不止住我的嘴唇。耶和華啊，這是你所知道的。
40:10 我未曾把你的公義藏在心裡；我已陳明你的信實和你的救恩；我在大會中未曾隱瞞你的慈愛和誠實。
40:11 耶和華啊，求你不要向我止住你的慈悲！願你的慈愛和誠實常常保佑我！
40:12 因有無數的禍患圍困我，我的罪孽追上了我，使我不能昂首；這罪孽比我的頭髮還多，我就心寒膽戰。
40:13 耶和華啊，求你開恩搭救我！耶和華啊，求你速速幫助我！
40:14 願那些尋找我、要滅我命的，一同抱愧蒙羞！願那些喜悅我受害的，退後受辱！
40:15 願那些對我說阿哈、阿哈的，因羞愧而敗亡！
40:16 願一切尋求你的，因你高興歡喜！願那些喜愛你救恩的，常說：當尊耶和華為大！
40:17 但我是困苦窮乏的，主仍顧念我；你是幫助我的，搭救我的。上帝啊，求你不要耽延！

For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.

¹ I waited patiently for the Lord;
    he turned to me and heard my cry.
² He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
    out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
    and gave me a firm place to stand.
³ He put a new song in my mouth,
    a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear the Lord
    and put their trust in him.

⁴ Blessed is the one
    who trusts in the Lord,
who does not look to the proud,
    to those who turn aside to false gods.^[b]
5 Many, Lord my God,
    are the wonders you have done,
    the things you planned for us.
None can compare with you;
    were I to speak and tell of your deeds,
    they would be too many to declare.

⁶ Sacrifice and offering you did not desire—
    but my ears you have opened^[c]—
    burnt offerings and sin offerings^[d] you did not require.
⁷ Then I said, “Here I am, I have come—
    it is written about me in the scroll.^[e]
8 I desire to do your will, my God;
    your law is within my heart.”

⁹ I proclaim your saving acts in the great assembly;
    I do not seal my lips, Lord,
    as you know.
¹⁰ I do not hide your righteousness in my heart;
    I speak of your faithfulness and your saving help.
I do not conceal your love and your faithfulness
    from the great assembly.

¹¹ Do not withhold your mercy from me, Lord;
    may your love and faithfulness always protect me.
¹² For troubles without number surround me;
    my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see.
They are more than the hairs of my head,
    and my heart fails within me.
¹³ Be pleased to save me, Lord;
    come quickly, Lord, to help me.

¹⁴ May all who want to take my life
    be put to shame and confusion;
may all who desire my ruin
    be turned back in disgrace.
¹⁵ May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!”
    be appalled at their own shame.
¹⁶ But may all who seek you
    rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who long for your saving help always say,
    “The Lord is great!”

¹⁷ But as for me, I am poor and needy;
    may the Lord think of me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
    you are my God, do not delay.

************

    大衛的詩句當中常常會說明自己所遇見的困苦，並且在這樣的困苦中尋求耶和華的幫助。雖然困苦還在，但是他的心中相信上帝必定故念，這就是信心的表現！所以他會向上帝禱告說：「但我是困苦窮乏的，主仍顧念我；你是幫助我的，搭救我的。上帝啊，求你不要耽延！」

    許多時候，我們覺得自己的事情要靠自己來處理，尋求別的幫助，會讓人覺得自己使無能的，而感到恨羞愧！也因為這樣，人很不容易求救，常常會逞強，非等到自己無法處理，不然是不會輕言求救的！

    然而上帝也不鼓勵我們倚靠人，可是祂卻要我們仰望祂，尤其是在事情的一開始就要依靠祂！這不是一件羞恥的事，上帝喜悅我們和祂一起面對苦難，並且在我們的心中加添心力，使我們能剛強面對！

    想想保羅所說的話：「他(主)對我說：『我的恩典夠你用的，因為我的能力是在人的軟弱上顯得完全。』所以，我更喜歡誇自己的軟弱，好叫基督的能力覆庇我。」(哥林多後書:12:9)

    這也告訴我們，要承認自己的軟弱，好尋求基督的能力覆庇我們，這樣我們才能如保羅一般見證說：「我為基督的緣故，就以軟弱、凌辱、急難、逼迫、困苦為可喜樂的；因我甚麼時候軟弱，甚麼時候就剛強了。」(哥林多後書:12:10)