Psalms 40:12

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.

For innumerable {H4557} evils {H7451} have compassed {H661}{H8804)} me about: mine iniquities {H5771} have taken hold {H5381}{H8689)} upon me, so that I am not able {H3201}{H8804)} to look up {H7200}{H8800)}; they are more {H6105}{H8804)} than the hairs {H8185} of mine head {H7218}: therefore my heart {H3820} faileth {H5800}{H8804)} me.

For numberless evils surround me; my iniquities engulf me - I can't even see; there are more of them than hairs on my head, so that my courage fails 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.

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.

Commentary

Psalms 40:12 is a poignant cry from the heart of the psalmist, likely David, expressing overwhelming distress and the profound weight of personal sin. It captures a moment of deep despair where external troubles ("innumerable evils") combine with internal conviction ("mine iniquities") to create a sense of being utterly trapped and unable to find relief.

Context

Psalm 40 is a unique psalm that transitions from a song of thanksgiving and testimony of God's faithfulness (verses 1-10) to a fervent prayer for deliverance and a lament over personal suffering and sin (verses 11-17). The psalmist, who began this psalm with a testimony of waiting on the Lord and being delivered, now finds himself in a new or recurring season of immense trouble. Verse 12 serves as the core of this lament, revealing the dual burden of external pressures and the crushing weight of his own transgressions.

Key Themes

  • Overwhelming Distress: The phrase "innumerable evils have compassed me about" vividly portrays a sense of being surrounded and suffocated by troubles, misfortunes, or adversaries.
  • The Burden of Sin: "Mine iniquities have taken hold upon me" signifies that his sins are not merely external accusations but an internal reality that has seized him, leading to profound guilt and spiritual paralysis. This is a common theme in David's laments, as seen in Psalm 51, where he confesses his transgressions.
  • Despair and Helplessness: "So that I am not able to look up" illustrates the emotional and spiritual paralysis caused by this overwhelming burden. It suggests shame, inability to seek God's face, or a loss of hope. The concluding "therefore my heart faileth me" expresses utter exhaustion and despair, a complete loss of strength and courage.
  • Countless Transgressions: "They are more than the hairs of mine head" is a hyperbole emphasizing the sheer multitude of his sins, intensifying the feeling of being utterly overcome.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Iniquities" (Hebrew: ืขึฒื•ึนื ื•ึนืช, 'avonot): This term refers to moral perversity, guilt, or the punishment due to sin. It implies a deviation from God's path, often with a sense of deliberate wrongdoing or its consequences, not just a mistake.
  • "Taken hold upon me" (Hebrew: ื”ึดืฉึดึผื‚ื™ื’ื•ึผื ึดื™, hissiguni): This verb means to overtake, to catch up with, or to seize. It conveys the idea that his sins have actively pursued and apprehended him, leaving him captive to their consequences and the resulting guilt.

Practical Application

Psalms 40:12 offers a powerful voice to human experience, even for believers:

  • Honest Confession: It models profound honesty before God, acknowledging not only external suffering but also the internal reality of personal sin as a source of distress. It encourages us to bring our full truth, including our guilt, to the Lord.
  • Understanding Despair: This verse helps us understand the crushing weight of guilt and despair that can accompany sin and suffering. It validates these feelings, showing that even a man after God's own heart experienced them.
  • Hope Beyond Despair: While this verse expresses deep despair, the broader context of Psalm 40 (and indeed many psalms) points to God as the ultimate source of deliverance and mercy. Even when our "heart faileth," God's compassion does not fail (Lamentations 3:22-23). It reminds us that acknowledging our state is the first step towards seeking His help.
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Cross-References

  • Psalms 38:4

    For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.

  • Psalms 73:26

    My flesh and my heart faileth: [but] God [is] the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

  • Psalms 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.

  • Psalms 19:12

    Who can understand [his] errors? cleanse thou me from secret [faults].

  • Psalms 116:3

    The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow.

  • 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

    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.