Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version 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. New Living Translation 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. English Standard Version 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. Berean Standard Bible 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. King James Bible 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 King James Version 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. New American Standard Bible For evils beyond number have surrounded me; My guilty deeds have overtaken me, so that I am not able to see; They are more numerous than the hairs of my head, And my heart has failed me. NASB 1995 For evils beyond number have surrounded me; My iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to see; They are more numerous than the hairs of my head, And my heart has failed me. NASB 1977 For evils beyond number have surrounded me; My iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to see; They are more numerous than the hairs of my head; And my heart has failed me. Legacy Standard Bible For evils beyond number have surrounded me; My iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to see; They are more numerous than the hairs of my head, And my heart has failed me. Amplified Bible For innumerable evils have encompassed me; My sins have overtaken me, so that I am not able to see. They are more numerous than the hairs of my head, And my heart has failed me. Christian Standard Bible For troubles without number have surrounded me; my iniquities have overtaken me; I am unable to see. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my courage leaves me. Holman Christian Standard Bible For troubles without number have surrounded me; my sins have overtaken me; I am unable to see. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my courage leaves me. American Standard Version For innumerable evils have compassed me about; Mine iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to look up; They are more than the hairs of my head; And my heart hath failed me. Contemporary English Version I have more troubles than I can count. My sins are all around me, and I can't find my way. My sins outnumber the hairs on my head, and I feel weak. English Revised Version For innumerable evils have compassed me about, mine iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head, and my heart hath failed me. GOD'S WORD® Translation 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. Good News Translation I am surrounded by many troubles--too many to count! My sins have caught up with me, and I can no longer see; they are more than the hairs of my head, and I have lost my courage. International Standard Version Innumerable evils have surrounded me; my iniquities have overtaken me so that I cannot see. They are more in number than the hair on my head, and my courage has forsaken me. Majority Standard Bible 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. NET Bible For innumerable dangers surround me. My sins overtake me so I am unable to see; they outnumber the hairs of my head so my strength fails me. New Heart English Bible 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. My heart has failed me. Webster's Bible Translation For innumerable evils have encompassed me: my iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of my head: therefore my heart faileth me. World English Bible 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. My heart has failed me. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionFor innumerable evils have surrounded me, "" My iniquities have overtaken me, "" And I have not been able to see; They have been more than the hairs of my head, "" And my heart has forsaken me. Young's Literal Translation For compassed me have evils innumerable, Overtaken me have mine iniquities, And I have not been able to see; They have been more than the hairs of my head, And my heart hath forsaken me. Smith's Literal Translation For evils even not being numbered encompassed about me: mine iniquities overtook me, and I was not able to see; they were numerous above the hairs of my head, and my heart forsook me. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleFor evils without number have surrounded me; my iniquities have overtaken me, and I was not able to see. They are multiplied above the hairs of my head : and my heart hath forsaken me. Catholic Public Domain Version New American Bible But evils surround me until they cannot be counted. My sins overtake me, so that I can no longer see. They are more numerous than the hairs of my head; my courage fails me. New Revised Standard Version For evils have encompassed me without number; my iniquities have overtaken me, until I cannot see; they are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart fails me. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleFor innumerable evils have surrounded me; mine iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of my head; and my heart fails me. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Because evils without number surround me, and my sins have overtaken me and I was not able to see, and they have increased more than the hairs of my head, and my heart has forsaken me. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917For innumerable evils have compassed me about, Mine iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to look up; They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart hath failed me. Brenton Septuagint Translation For innumerable evils have encompassed me; my transgressions have taken hold of me, and I could not see; they are multiplied more than the hairs of my head; and my heart has failed me. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context I Waited Patiently for the LORD…11O LORD, do not withhold Your mercy from me; Your loving devotion and faithfulness will always guard me. 12For 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.… Cross References Isaiah 53:6 We 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. Romans 7:18-24 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh; for I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. / For I do not do the good I want to do. Instead, I keep on doing the evil I do not want to do. / And if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. ... Psalm 38:4 For my iniquities have overwhelmed me; they are a burden too heavy to bear. Jeremiah 14:7 Although our iniquities testify against us, O LORD, act for the sake of Your name. Indeed, our rebellions are many; we have sinned against You. 2 Corinthians 5:21 God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. Psalm 69:5 You know my folly, O God, and my guilt is not hidden from You. Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Isaiah 59:12 For our transgressions are multiplied before You, and our sins testify against us. Our transgressions are indeed with us, and we know our iniquities: 1 John 1:8-9 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. / If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Psalm 51:3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. James 1:14-15 But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed. / Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. Job 13:23 How many are my iniquities and sins? Reveal to me my transgression and sin. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Psalm 25:11 For the sake of Your name, O LORD, forgive my iniquity, for it is great. 1 Timothy 1:15 This is a trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst. Treasury of Scripture For innumerable evils have compassed me about: my iniquities have taken hold on me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of my head: therefore my heart fails me. innumerable Psalm 22:11-19 Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help… Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. mine Psalm 38:4 For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me. Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. Luke 18:13,14 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner… they are Psalm 19:12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. Psalm 69:4 They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away. heart Psalm 73:26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. Genesis 42:28 And he said unto his brethren, My money is restored; and, lo, it is even in my sack: and their heart failed them, and they were afraid, saying one to another, What is this that God hath done unto us? Luke 21:26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. faileth [heb. Jump to Previous Able Bent Compassed Encompassed Evils Failed Faileth Fails Hairs Head Heart Hold Iniquities Innumerable Look Numerous Overtaken Round Sins Strength Surround Surrounded Troubles Unnumbered Weight WithinJump to Next Able Bent Compassed Encompassed Evils Failed Faileth Fails Hairs Head Heart Hold Iniquities Innumerable Look Numerous Overtaken Round Sins Strength Surround Surrounded Troubles Unnumbered Weight WithinPsalm 40 1. The benefit of confidence in God6. Obedience is the best sacrifice 11. The sense of David's evils inflames his prayer For evils without number surround me; This phrase reflects the overwhelming nature of the psalmist's troubles, which are so numerous they cannot be counted. In the biblical context, "evils" often refer to adversities or calamities, which could be external threats or internal struggles. The imagery of being surrounded suggests a sense of entrapment or being besieged, common in the Psalms where the writer often feels overwhelmed by enemies or circumstances. This can be connected to the experiences of King David, who faced numerous adversaries throughout his life, including King Saul and his own son Absalom. Theologically, this can also be seen as a type of Christ, who was surrounded by evils and adversaries during His earthly ministry, particularly leading up to His crucifixion. 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. Persons / Places / Events 1. DavidTraditionally attributed as the author of this psalm, David is expressing a deep sense of personal distress and recognition of his own sinfulness. 2. God The psalm is a prayer directed to God, acknowledging His power and mercy in the face of overwhelming troubles. 3. Enemies Though not explicitly mentioned in this verse, the context of the psalm suggests that David is surrounded by adversaries, both external and internal (his own sins). 4. Jerusalem While not directly mentioned, David's life and prayers are often centered around Jerusalem, the city of God. 5. Sin and Iniquity These are the internal struggles David faces, acknowledging his own failures and the weight of his sins. Teaching Points Recognition of SinAcknowledge the reality and weight of personal sin. Like David, we must come to terms with our own iniquities and their impact on our lives. Dependence on God In times of overwhelming distress, whether from external evils or internal sins, our ultimate hope and deliverance come from God. The Heart's Condition Understand that sin affects not just our actions but also our heart, leading to spiritual blindness and failure. Confession and Repentance Regularly practice confession and repentance, trusting in God's mercy and forgiveness. Spiritual Warfare Recognize the spiritual battle we face, both from external forces and internal struggles, and equip ourselves with prayer and Scripture.Verse 12. - For innumerable evils have compassed me about; literally, for evils have gathered upon me until there is no number (comp. vers. 1, 2). The exact nature of the "evils" is not mentioned; but the worst of them appears to be "the deep and bitter consciousness of sin" revealed in the next clause. Another was, beyond all doubt, the continued animosity of enemies (ver. 14). Mental and bodily weakness may have been added, and have completed the crushing load whereof complaint is made. It is noted that the exceedingly deep consciousness of sin here displayed "belongs altogether to a late part of David's life" (Canon Cook). Mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; rather, so that 1 am not able to see. An actual failure of sight seems to be intended (comp. Psalm 6:7; Psalm 31:9; 28:10). They are more than the hairs of my head; i.e. they are more in number. Therefore my heart faileth me; i.e. "my courage" and "my strength of mind" (comp. Psalm 38:10). Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Forכִּ֤י (kî) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction evils רָע֡וֹת (rā·‘ō·wṯ) Noun - feminine plural Strong's 7451: Bad, evil without אֵ֬ין (’ên) Adverb Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle number מִסְפָּ֗ר (mis·pār) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4557: A number, definite, indefinite, narration surround me; אָפְפ֥וּ־ (’ā·p̄ə·p̄ū-) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 661: To surround, encompass my sins עֲ֭וֺנֹתַי (‘ă·wō·nō·ṯay) Noun - common plural construct | first person common singular Strong's 5771: Iniquity, guilt, punishment for iniquity have overtaken me, הִשִּׂיג֣וּנִי (hiś·śî·ḡū·nî) Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural | first person common singular Strong's 5381: To reach, overtake so that I cannot וְלֹא־ (wə·lō-) Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no see. לִרְא֑וֹת (lir·’ō·wṯ) Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Strong's 7200: To see They are more עָצְמ֥וּ (‘ā·ṣə·mū) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 6105: To bind fast, close, powerful, numerous, to crunch the bones than the hairs מִשַּֽׂעֲר֥וֹת (miś·śa·‘ă·rō·wṯ) Preposition-m | Noun - feminine plural construct Strong's 8185: Hairiness of my head, רֹ֝אשִׁ֗י (rō·šî) Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular Strong's 7218: The head and my heart וְלִבִּ֥י (wə·lib·bî) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre has failed within me. עֲזָבָֽנִי׃ (‘ă·zā·ḇā·nî) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | first person common singular Strong's 5800: To loosen, relinquish, permit Links Psalm 40:12 NIVPsalm 40:12 NLT Psalm 40:12 ESV Psalm 40:12 NASB Psalm 40:12 KJV Psalm 40:12 BibleApps.com Psalm 40:12 Biblia Paralela Psalm 40:12 Chinese Bible Psalm 40:12 French Bible Psalm 40:12 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Psalm 40:12 For innumerable evils have surrounded me (Psalm Ps Psa.) |
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