Psalms 40:17

But I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my helper and deliverer; O my God, do not delay.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The psalmist turns from a communal prayer (v.16) to a personal one, addressing the Lord directly from a position of poverty and need.

The words — עָנִי ('a.Ni, "poor") and אֶבְיוֹן ('ev.yOn, "needy") are stacked, doubling the speaker's destitution rather than varying the description.

The thread — Psalms 70:5 is nearly verbatim; Hebrews 13:6 quotes the "The Lord is my helper" clause; Isaiah 41:17 pairs "the poor and needy" with God's answering.

Why it lands — The verse models a prayer that names the speaker's condition without apology and then issues a direct command to God: do not delay.

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

וַאֲנִ֤י׀va./'a.Niand/ I עָנִ֣י'a.Ni[am] poor וְאֶבְיוֹן֮ve./'ev.yOnand/ needy אֲדֹנָ֪י'a.do.Nai[the] Lord יַחֲשָׁ֫בya.cha.Shavmay he thinkלִ֥יl/ito/ meעֶזְרָתִ֣י'ez.ra.T/i[are] help/ my וּמְפַלְטִ֣יu./me.fal.T/iand/ deliverer/ my אַ֑תָּה'A.tahyou אֱ֝לֹהַ֗י'e.lo.Ha/iO God/ my אַל־'al-may not תְּאַחַֽר׃te.'a.Charyou delay

King James Version

But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.

Cross-references

Psalms 70:5 But I am poor and needy; hurry to me, O God. You are my help and my deliverer; O LORD, do not delay.
Hebrews 13:6 So we say with confidence: “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”
Isaiah 41:17 The poor and needy seek water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. I, the LORD, will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.
Psalms 34:6 This poor man called out, and the LORD heard him; He saved him from all his troubles.
1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
Psalms 54:4 Surely God is my helper; the Lord is the sustainer of my soul.
Psalms 86:1 A prayer of David. Incline Your ear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.
Psalms 40:5 Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders You have done, and the plans You have for us—none can compare to You—if I proclaim and declare them, they are more than I can count.
Psalms 143:7 Answer me quickly, O LORD; my spirit fails. Do not hide Your face from me, or I will be like those who descend to the Pit.
Isaiah 50:7 Because the Lord GOD helps Me, I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set My face like flint, and I know that I will not be put to shame.