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 buried your righteousness deep in my heart. I have been outspoken about your faithfulness and your salvation. I have not hidden your mercy and your truth from those assembled for worship. 11Do not withhold your compassion from me, O Lord. May your mercy and your truth always protect me. Countless evils have surrounded me. My sins have caught up with me so that I can no longer see. They outnumber the hairs on my head. I have lost heart. 13O Lord, please rescue me! Come quickly to help me, O Lord! 14Let all those who seek to end my life be confused and put to shame. Let those who want my downfall be turned back and disgraced.

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

Words taken from the KJV.

• For innumerableמִסְפָּרmispâr · numberH4557
• evilsרָעָהra‛ râ‛âh · distress: evilH7451
• have compassedאָפַף'âphaph · to surroundH661
• me about: mine iniquitiesעָוֺן‛âvôn ‛âvôn · iniquity: crimeH5771
• have taken holdנָשַׂגnâώag · to overtakeH5381
• upon me, so that I am not ableיָכֹלyâkôl yâkôl · be ableH3201
• to look upרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• they are moreעָצֹם‛âtsam · be vastH6105
• than the hairsשַׂעֲרָהώa‛ărâh · hairH8185
• of mine headרֹאשׁrô'sh · headH7218
• therefore my heartלֵבlêb · heartH3820
• failethעָזַב‛âzab · to leave: forsakeH5800

Cross-references for Psalms 40:12

• Psalms 22:11Do not be so far away from me. Trouble is near, and there is no one to help.
• Hebrews 4:15We have a chief priest who is able to sympathize with our weaknesses. He was tempted in every way that we are, but he didn’t sin.
• Psalms 38:4My guilt has overwhelmed me. Like a heavy load, it is more than I can bear.
• Isaiah 53:6We have all strayed like sheep. Each one of us has turned to go his own way, and the Lord has laid all our sins on him.
• Luke 18:13“But the tax collector was standing at a distance. He wouldn’t even look up to heaven. Instead, he became very upset, and he said, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’
• 1 Peter 3:18This is true because Christ suffered for our sins once. He was an innocent person, but he suffered for guilty people so that he could bring you to God. His body was put to death, but he was brought to life through his spirit.
• Psalms 19:12Who can notice every mistake? Forgive my hidden faults.
• Psalms 69:4Those who hate me for no reason outnumber the hairs on my head. Those who want to destroy me are mighty. They have no reason to be my enemies. I am forced to pay back what I did not steal.
• Psalms 73:26My body and mind may waste away, but God remains the foundation of my life and my inheritance forever.
• Genesis 42:28He said to his brothers, “My money has been put back! It’s right here in my sack!” They wanted to die. They trembled and turned to each other and asked, “What has God done to us?”
• Luke 21:26People will faint as they fearfully wait for what will happen to the world. Indeed, the powers of the universe 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