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Psalm 40:4
Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, and doesn’t respect the proud, nor such as turn away to lies.
2He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay. He set my feet on a rock, and gave me a firm place to stand.
3He has put a new song in my mouth, even praise to our God. Many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.
4Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, and doesn’t respect the proud, nor such as turn away to lies.
5Many, LORD, my God, are the wonderful works which you have done, and your thoughts which are toward us. They can’t be declared back to you. If I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be counted.
6Sacrifice and offering you didn’t desire. You have opened my ears. You have not required burnt offering and sin offering.
Notice
Trust in YHWH comes with a refusal to honor pride and lies, making the voices you respect part of this verse’s concern.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
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Where else Scripture says this
11 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.
This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Jeremiah 17:7“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose confidence is in the LORD.Both passages name the person who trusts in the LORD as blessed, locating confidence in him.
Psalm 118:8It is better to take refuge in the LORD, than to put confidence in man.Both passages favor trust in the LORD over human reliance, with Psalm 40 naming the proud and those who turn to lies.
Psalm 2:12Give sincere homage to the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish on the way, for his wrath will soon be kindled. Blessed are all those who take refuge in him.Both passages pronounce a blessing tied to dependence: Psalm 40 names trust in the LORD, and Psalm 2 names refuge in the Son.
Psalm 32:1By David. A contemplative psalm. Blessed is he whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is covered.Both describe a blessed person, though Psalm 40 speaks of trust and Psalm 32 speaks of forgiven disobedience.
Psalm 101:3I will set no vile thing before my eyes. I hate the deeds of faithless men. They will not cling to me.Both express refusal to align with faithlessness: Psalm 40 rejects regard for those turning to lies, while Psalm 101 rejects faithless deeds.
Romans 15:12–13Again, Isaiah says, “There will be the root of Jesse, he who arises to rule over the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles will hope.”Both concern the object of trust or hope: the LORD in the psalm, and the root of Jesse in Romans.
Jonah 2:8Those who regard vain idols forsake their own mercy.Both address misplaced regard: Psalm 40 rejects respect for those turning to lies, while Jonah describes the loss attached to regarding vain idols.
2 Thessalonians 2:9–11even he whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,The shared thread is deception: Psalm 40 mentions people turning to lies, while Thessalonians describes lying wonders associated with Satan’s work.
Jeremiah 10:14–15Every man has become brutish and without knowledge. Every goldsmith is disappointed by his engraved image; for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no …Both mention falsehood: Psalm 40 warns against respecting those who turn to lies, while Jeremiah identifies molten images as falsehood.
Isaiah 44:18–20They don’t know, neither do they consider, for he has shut their eyes, that they can’t see, and their hearts, that they can’t understand.The link is limited: Isaiah describes failed understanding, while the psalm warns against honoring people who turn toward lies.
1 Kings 22:43He walked in all the way of Asa his father. He didn’t turn away from it, doing that which was right in the LORD’s eyes. However, the high places were not taken …Both distinguish faithfulness from departure: the psalm mentions turning away to lies, while Kings describes a king continuing in what the LORD judged right.
Where this verse fits
A big decision. temptation. envy and comparison.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
The proud may command attention, and lies may win respect. The blessing named here belongs to the person who makes YHWH their trust.
Now put it in your words.
Start an entry on Psalm 40:4. Write what it stirs. Psalmlog sets your words beside Scripture and gives you one next step. Your first entry is free, no account needed.
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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).