Bible Strands
Psalms 40:11
O LORD, do not withhold Your mercy from me; Your loving devotion and faithfulness will always guard me.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The psalmist addresses Yahweh directly, requesting that mercy not be withheld while surrounded by inescapable evils and overwhelming sin.
The words — תִכְלָא (tikh.La') means "you will withhold," paired with רַחֲמֶ֣יךָ (ra.cha.Mei.kha) for "your compassion" and חַסְדְּךָ (chas.de.kha) for "your covenant loyalty."
The thread — The plea for unwithheld mercy and guarding faithfulness aligns with the promised pursuit of goodness and mercy in Psalms 23:6 and the guiding light and truth in Psalms 43:3.
Why it lands — The text requires a direct appeal to God’s consistent character rather than self-reliance when confronted with inescapable guilt and distress.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O Lord: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.
Cross-references
- Psalms 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
- Psalms 43:3 Send out Your light and Your truth; let them lead me. Let them bring me to Your holy mountain and to the place where You dwell.
- Psalms 57:3 He reaches down from heaven and saves me; He rebukes those who trample me. Selah God sends forth His loving devotion and His truth.
- Proverbs 20:28 Loving devotion and faithfulness preserve a king; by these he maintains his throne.
- Psalms 69:16 Answer me, O LORD, for Your loving devotion is good; turn to me in keeping with Your great compassion.
- Psalms 61:7 May he sit enthroned in God’s presence forever; appoint Your loving devotion and Your faithfulness to guard him.
- Psalms 69:13 But my prayer to You, O LORD, is for a time of favor. In Your abundant loving devotion, O God, answer me with Your sure salvation.
- Psalms 85:10 Loving devotion and faithfulness have joined together; righteousness and peace have kissed.
- Hebrews 5:7 During the days of Jesus’ earthly life, He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence.