Psalm 40:8
New International Version
I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart.”

New Living Translation
I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your instructions are written on my heart.”

English Standard Version
I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.”

Berean Standard Bible
I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your law is within my heart.”

King James Bible
I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.

New King James Version
I delight to do Your will, O my God, And Your law is within my heart.”

New American Standard Bible
“I delight to do Your will, my God; Your Law is within my heart.”

NASB 1995
I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your Law is within my heart.”

NASB 1977
I delight to do Thy will, O my God; Thy Law is within my heart.”

Legacy Standard Bible
I desire to do Your will, O my God; Your law is within my inner being.”

Amplified Bible
“I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your law is within my heart.”

Christian Standard Bible
I delight to do your will, my God, and your instruction is deep within me.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I delight to do Your will, my God; Your instruction lives within me.”

American Standard Version
I delight to do thy will, O my God; Yea, thy law is within my heart.

Contemporary English Version
'I enjoy pleasing you. Your Law is in my heart.'"

English Revised Version
I delight to do thy will, O my God; yea, thy law is within my heart.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I am happy to do your will, O my God." Your teachings are deep within me.

Good News Translation
How I love to do your will, my God! I keep your teaching in my heart."

International Standard Version
I delight to do your will, my God. Your Law is part of my inner being."

Majority Standard Bible
I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your law is within my heart.”

NET Bible
I want to do what pleases you, my God. Your law dominates my thoughts."

New Heart English Bible
to do your will, O God, I desired. And your Law is within my heart."

Webster's Bible Translation
I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.

World English Bible
I delight to do your will, my God. Yes, your law is within my heart.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
I have delighted to do Your pleasure, my God, "" And Your law [is] within my heart.”

Young's Literal Translation
To do Thy pleasure, my God, I have delighted, And Thy law is within my heart.

Smith's Literal Translation
To do thine acceptance, O my God, I delighted; and thy law in the midst of my bowels.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
that I should do thy will : O my God, I have desired it, and thy law in the midst of my heart.

Catholic Public Domain Version
that I should do your will. My God, I have willed it. And your law is in the midst of my heart.

New American Bible
I delight to do your will, my God; your law is in my inner being!”

New Revised Standard Version
I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
I delight to do thy will, O my God; yea, thy law is within my heart.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
To do your pleasure oh, God, I have desired, and your Law is within my belly.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
I delight to do Thy will, O my God; Yea, Thy law is in my inmost parts.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
I desired to do thy will, O my God, and thy law in the midst of mine heart.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
I Waited Patiently for the LORD
7Then I said, “Here I am, I have come—it is written about me in the scroll: 8I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your law is within my heart.” 9I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly; behold, I do not seal my lips, as You, O LORD, do know.…

Cross References
Hebrews 10:5-10
Therefore, when Christ came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You prepared for Me. / In burnt offerings and sin offerings You took no delight. / Then I said, ‘Here I am, it is written about Me in the scroll: I have come to do Your will, O God.’” ...

John 4:34
Jesus explained, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work.

Matthew 26:39
Going a little farther, He fell facedown and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.”

John 6:38
For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but to do the will of Him who sent Me.

Luke 22:42
“Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me. Yet not My will, but Yours be done.”

Philippians 2:8
And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross.

Romans 7:22
For in my inner being I delight in God’s law.

John 5:30
I can do nothing by Myself; I judge only as I hear. And My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.

Matthew 12:50
For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”

Hebrews 5:8
Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from what He suffered.

Isaiah 53:10
Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush Him and to cause Him to suffer; and when His soul is made a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, and the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand.

Jeremiah 31:33
“But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD. I will put My law in their minds and inscribe it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people.

Ezekiel 36:26-27
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. / And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and to carefully observe My ordinances.

Deuteronomy 30:14
But the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you may obey it.

Psalm 119:11
I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.


Treasury of Scripture

I delight to do your will, O my God: yes, your law is within my heart.

I delight

Psalm 112:1
Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.

Psalm 119:16,24,47,92
I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word…

Job 23:12
Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

yea

Psalm 37:30,31
The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment…

Proverbs 3:1
My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:

Jeremiah 31:33
But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

within my heart [heb.

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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














I delight
The Hebrew word used here is "חָפֵץ" (chafets), which conveys a sense of pleasure, desire, or willingness. In the context of Psalm 40:8, this word reflects a deep, heartfelt joy and eagerness to engage in the will of God. This delight is not merely a superficial or obligatory action but a profound, intrinsic joy that comes from a relationship with God. Historically, this delight can be seen in the lives of biblical figures like David, who, despite his flaws, consistently sought to align his life with God's desires. This delight is a model for believers, encouraging them to find joy in God's commandments and purposes.

to do Your will
The phrase "to do Your will" emphasizes obedience and submission to God's plans and purposes. The Hebrew word for "will" is "רָצוֹן" (ratson), which implies not just a passive acceptance but an active pursuit of God's desires. In the biblical context, doing God's will is a central theme, as seen in the lives of prophets and apostles who prioritized God's commands over their own desires. This phrase challenges believers to seek God's guidance in all aspects of life, trusting that His will is perfect and leads to ultimate fulfillment and peace.

O my God
This phrase is a personal and intimate address to God, highlighting a relationship that is both reverent and close. The use of "my God" indicates a personal connection and ownership of faith. In the Hebrew text, "אֱלֹהַי" (Elohai) is used, which is a form of "Elohim," a name for God that denotes power and majesty. This personal address reflects the covenant relationship between God and His people, reminding believers of the privilege and responsibility of being in a personal relationship with the Creator.

Your law is within my heart
The phrase "Your law is within my heart" speaks to the internalization of God's commandments. The Hebrew word for "law" is "תּוֹרָה" (torah), which encompasses God's teachings and instructions. Having the law within one's heart suggests a deep, internal commitment to God's ways, beyond mere external observance. This internalization is a theme throughout Scripture, as seen in Deuteronomy 6:6, where God's words are to be upon the heart. For believers, this phrase encourages a transformation that goes beyond outward compliance to a heartfelt devotion and alignment with God's principles, leading to a life that naturally reflects His character.

Verse 8. - I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy Law is within my heart. The obedience to be rendered will be a true and acceptable obedience,

(1) cheerful, and

(2) from the heart.

Consciously or unconsciously, David speaks as the type of Christ (see Hebrews 10:5-7).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
I delight
חָפָ֑צְתִּי (ḥā·p̄ā·ṣə·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 2654: To incline to, to bend, to be pleased with, desire

to do
לַֽעֲשֽׂוֹת־ (la·‘ă·śō·wṯ-)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 6213: To do, make

Your will,
רְצוֹנְךָ֣ (rə·ṣō·wn·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 7522: Goodwill, favor, acceptance, will

O my God;
אֱלֹהַ֣י (’ĕ·lō·hay)
Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

Your law
וְ֝ת֥וֹרָתְךָ֗ (wə·ṯō·w·rā·ṯə·ḵā)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 8451: Direction, instruction, law

[is] within
בְּת֣וֹךְ (bə·ṯō·wḵ)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8432: A bisection, the centre

my heart.”
מֵעָֽי׃ (mê·‘āy)
Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 4578: The intestines, the abdomen, sympathy, a vest, the stomach, the uterus, the heart


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OT Poetry: Psalm 40:8 I delight to do your will my (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 40:7
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