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Psalm 40:5

Many, 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.

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.
7Then I said, “Behold, I have come. It is written about me in the book in the scroll.
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Notice

The attempt to count God’s wonderful works becomes praise, as the speaker finds that God’s deeds and thoughts toward his people exceed any account.

Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.

Which work of God would you name first if you began the account described here?

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What do you make of God’s thoughts being directed toward his people?

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Where might your own account of God’s works leave gaps?

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Connect

Where else Scripture says this

10 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 29:11For I know the thoughts that I think toward you,” says the LORD, “thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you hope and a future.Both speak of God’s thoughts toward his people, with Jeremiah naming peace, hope, and a future.
Isaiah 55:8“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways,” says the LORD.Both speak of God’s thoughts; Psalm 40 marvels at their number, while Isaiah distinguishes them from human thoughts.
Psalm 139:14I will give thanks to you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful. My soul knows that very well.Both praise God’s wonderful works, with Psalm 139 naming the making of the speaker as one such work.
Psalm 92:5How great are your works, LORD! Your thoughts are very deep.Both praise the LORD’s works and thoughts, describing their abundance in Psalm 40 and their greatness and depth in Psalm 92.
Psalm 139:17How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is their sum!Both marvel at the vast number of God’s thoughts, beyond the speaker’s ability to count.
John 21:25There are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they would all be written, I suppose that even the world itself wouldn’t have room for the books …Psalm 40 describes God’s works as beyond counting; John describes Jesus’ deeds as exceeding what the world’s books could contain.
Exodus 15:11Who is like you, LORD, among the gods? Who is like you, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?Both address the LORD in praise for doing wonders, with Exodus also declaring his unmatched holiness.
Job 5:9who does great things that can’t be fathomed, marvelous things without number;Both describe God’s marvelous works as beyond counting, with Job also saying they cannot be fathomed.
Job 9:10He does great things past finding out; yes, marvelous things without number.Both speak of God’s marvelous deeds without number, exceeding the reach of a complete human account.
Isaiah 25:1The LORD, you are my God. I will exalt you! I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago, in complete faithfulness and …Both address God with personal praise for wonderful deeds, and Isaiah describes those deeds as planned long ago.
Where this verse fits

Gratitude. praise and worship. answered prayer.

What the Bible says about gratitude →What the Bible says about worship →
One step

Something small to carry out of this verse

Write down one work of God you remember

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Encouragement

Your account of God’s works can remain unfinished. The speaker reaches the limits of counting while still praising: God’s wonderful works exceed what anyone can recount.

Now put it in your words.

Start an entry on Psalm 40:5. Write what it stirs. Psalmlog sets your words beside Scripture and gives you one next step. Your first entry is free, no account needed.

Keep goingPsalm 40 · the whole chapter with its connection mapPsalms · every chapterBuild a reading plan through Psalms

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).