Psalms 40:12

Psalms 40:12 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me.
• New International Version (NIV)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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)For evils have encompassed me beyond number; my iniquities have overtaken me, and I cannot see; they are more than the hairs of my head; my heart fails me.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For innumerable evils have surrounded me; My iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to look up; They are more than the hairs of my head; Therefore my heart fails me.

Context of Psalms 40:12

10I have not covered up Your righteousness in my heart; I have declared Your faithfulness and salvation; I have not concealed Your loving devotion and faithfulness from the great assembly. 11O LORD, do not withhold Your mercy from me; Your loving devotion and faithfulness will always guard me. For evils without number surround me; my sins have overtaken me, so that I cannot see. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart has failed within me. 13Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me; hurry, O LORD, to help me. 14May those who seek my life be ashamed and confounded; may those who wish me harm be repelled and humiliated.

Psalms 40:12 word by word

כִּ֤י אָפְפ֥וּ־עָלַ֨י׀ רָע֡וֹת עַד־אֵ֬ין מִסְפָּ֗ר הִשִּׂיג֣וּנִי עֲ֭וֹנֹתַי וְלֹא־יָכֹ֣לְתִּי לִרְא֑וֹת עָצְמ֥וּ מִשַּֽׂעֲר֥וֹת רֹ֝אשִׁ֗י וְלִבִּ֥י עֲזָבָֽנִי׃Read the interlinear

• Forכִּיkîy · forH3588
• evilsרָעָהra‛ râ‛âh · distress: evilH7451
• evilsעַד‛ad · tillH5704
• withoutאַ֫יִן'ayin · nothingH369
• numberמִסְפָּרmispâr · numberH4557
• surround meאָפַף'âphaph · to surroundH661
• surround meעַל‛al · uponH5921
• my sinsעָוֺן‛âvôn ‛âvôn · iniquity: crimeH5771
• have overtaken meנָשַׂגnâώag · to overtakeH5381
• so that I cannotלֹאlô' lô' lôh · notH3808
• so that I cannotיָכֹלyâkôl yâkôl · be ableH3201
• seeרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• They are moreעָצֹם‛âtsam · be vastH6105
• than the hairsשַׂעֲרָהώa‛ărâh · hairH8185
• of my headרֹאשׁrô'sh · headH7218
• and my heartלֵבlêb · heartH3820
• has failed within meעָזַב‛âzab · to leave: forsakeH5800

Cross-references for Psalms 40:12

• Psalms 22:11Be not far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help.
• Hebrews 4:15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin.
• Psalms 38:4For my iniquities have overwhelmed me; they are a burden too heavy to bear.
• Isaiah 53:6We all like sheep have gone astray, each one has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all.
• Luke 18:13But the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’
• 1 Peter 3:18For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit,
• Psalms 19:12Who can discern his own errors? Cleanse me from my hidden faults.
• Psalms 69:4Those who hate me without cause outnumber the hairs of my head; many are those who would destroy me— my enemies for no reason. Though I did not steal, I must repay.
• Psalms 73:26My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
• Genesis 42:28“My silver has been returned!” he said to his brothers. “It is here in my sack.” Their hearts sank, and trembling, they turned to one another and said, “What is this that God has done to us?”
• Luke 21:26Men will faint from fear and anxiety over what is coming upon the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

Commentaries on Psalms 40:12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12Innumerable evils have compassed me about - This part does not comport with the preceding; and either argues a former experience, or must be considered a part of another Psalm, written at a different time, and on another occasion, and, were we to prefix the two first verses of the seventieth Psalm to it we should find it to be a Psalm as complete in itself as that is. They are more than the hairs of mine head - This could not be said by any person who was…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12For innumerable evils have compassed me about - Have surrounded me, or have beset me on every side. The evils here referred to, understood as being those which came upon the Messiah, were sorrows that came upon him in consequence of his undertaking to do what could not be done by sacrifices and offerings Psalm 40:6; that is, his undertaking to save men by his own “obedience unto death.” The time referred to here, I apprehend, is that when the full effects…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-17Verses 11-17 The best saints see themselves undone, unless continually preserved by the grace of God. But see the frightful view the psalmist had of sin. This made the discovery of a Redeemer so welcome. In all his reflections upon each step of his life, he discovered something amiss. The sight and sense of our sins in their own colours, must distract us, if we have not at the same time some sight of a Saviour. If Christ has triumphed over our spiritual…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12-17The psalmist is troubled by both his adversities and his own sins and prays for rescue. This passage is almost the same as Psalm 70.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. evils--inflicted by others. iniquities--or penal afflictions, and sometimes calamities in the wide sense. This meaning of the word is very common (Psa 31:11; 38:4; compare Ge 4:13, Cain's punishment; Ge 19:15, that of Sodom; 1Sa 28:10, of the witch of En-dor; also 2Sa 16:12; Job 19:29; Is 5:18; 53:11). This meaning of the word is also favored by the clause, "taken hold of me," which follows, which can be said appropriately of sufferings, but not of…Read the comment

Topics related to Psalms 40:12

• Conscience
• Prayer
• Repentance
• Sin

In the dictionaries

• Poetry
• Praise
• Preach
• Tarrying
• Wish
• Hair
• Pentateuch
• Psalms, Book of
• Messiah

Commentaries on Psalms 40

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• The Treasury of David
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings