Psalm 40:12
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.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
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.

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.

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.

Douay-Rheims Bible
For 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.

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.

JPS Tanakh 1917
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.

Literal Standard Version
For 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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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
Luke 21:20
But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, you will know that her desolation is near.

Psalm 18:5
The cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me.

Psalm 19:12
Who can discern his own errors? Cleanse me from my hidden faults.

Psalm 25:17
The troubles of my heart increase; free me from my distress.

Psalm 38:4
For my iniquities have overwhelmed me; they are a burden too heavy to bear.

Psalm 65:3
When iniquities prevail against me, You atone for our transgressions.

Psalm 69:4
Those 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.


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 Within
Jump 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 Within
Psalm 40
1. The benefit of confidence in God
6. Obedience is the best sacrifice
11. The sense of David's evils inflames his prayer














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
For
כִּ֤י (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 NIV
Psalm 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.)
Psalm 40:11
Top of Page
Top of Page