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.

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 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.

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 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.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For evils without number have surrounded me. My iniquities have taken hold of me, and I was not able to see. They have been multiplied beyond the hairs of my head. And my heart has forsaken 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.

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 Bible
For 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 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.

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.

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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
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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














For troubles without number have surrounded me
The phrase "For troubles without number have surrounded me" reflects a deep sense of overwhelming distress. The Hebrew word for "troubles" (רָעוֹת, ra'ot) can also mean "evils" or "calamities," indicating not just physical or external difficulties but also moral and spiritual challenges. The imagery of being "surrounded" suggests a siege, a common experience in ancient warfare, where enemies encircle a city, cutting off all escape routes. This metaphor highlights the psalmist's feeling of being trapped and besieged by his problems, a sentiment that resonates with many believers who feel overwhelmed by life's challenges.

my iniquities have overtaken me
The term "iniquities" (עֲוֹנוֹתַי, avonotai) refers to moral failings or sins. The psalmist acknowledges personal responsibility for his plight, recognizing that his own sins have contributed to his current state. The phrase "have overtaken me" suggests being caught or overwhelmed, as if by a pursuing enemy. This reflects the biblical principle that sin has consequences, often leading to a sense of being overwhelmed or trapped by one's own actions. It is a call to repentance and reliance on God's mercy.

so that I cannot see
The inability to "see" signifies a lack of clarity or understanding, often associated with spiritual blindness. In the Hebrew context, sight is frequently linked to wisdom and insight. The psalmist's sins have clouded his vision, preventing him from perceiving God's truth and guidance. This blindness is not just physical but spiritual, emphasizing the need for divine intervention to restore clarity and direction.

They are more than the hairs of my head
This hyperbolic expression underscores the vast number of the psalmist's troubles and sins. The comparison to "the hairs of my head" is a common biblical metaphor for something innumerable (see also Psalm 139:18). It conveys the overwhelming nature of his situation, emphasizing the need for God's infinite grace and forgiveness. The psalmist's acknowledgment of his countless sins is a step toward humility and repentance.

and my heart has failed within me
The "heart" (לִבִּי, libbi) in Hebrew thought is the center of one's emotions, will, and intellect. The phrase "has failed within me" indicates a profound sense of despair and weakness. This failure of the heart suggests a loss of courage, strength, and hope, often experienced in times of deep spiritual or emotional crisis. It is a poignant reminder of human frailty and the need for divine strength and renewal. The psalmist's cry reflects a deep dependence on God to restore and sustain him in his time of need.

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


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OT Poetry: Psalm 40:12 For innumerable evils have surrounded me (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 40:11
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