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 kept the good news of your justice hidden in my heart; I have talked about your faithfulness and saving power. I have told everyone in the great assembly of your unfailing love and faithfulness. 11Lord, don’t hold back your tender mercies from me. Let your unfailing love and faithfulness always protect me. For troubles surround me— too many to count! My sins pile up so high I can’t see my way out. They outnumber the hairs on my head. I have lost all courage. 13Please, Lord, rescue me! Come quickly, Lord, and help me. 14May those who try to destroy me be humiliated and put to shame. May those who take delight in my trouble be turned back in disgrace.

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 stay so far from me, for trouble is near, and no one else can help me.
• Hebrews 4:15This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.
• Psalms 38:4My guilt overwhelms me— it is a burden too heavy to bear.
• Isaiah 53:6All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all.
• Luke 18:13“But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’
• 1 Peter 3:18Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.
• Psalms 19:12How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults.
• Psalms 69:4Those who hate me without cause outnumber the hairs on my head. Many enemies try to destroy me with lies, demanding that I give back what I didn’t steal.
• Psalms 73:26My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.
• Genesis 42:28“Look!” he exclaimed to his brothers. “My money has been returned; it’s here in my sack!” Then their hearts sank. Trembling, they said to each other, “What has God done to us?”
• Luke 21:26People will be terrified at what they see coming upon the earth, for the powers in 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