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To the director: A song of David.

41 Those who help the poor succeed will get many blessings.[a]
    When trouble comes, the Lord will save them.
The Lord will protect them and save their lives.
    He will bless them in this land.
    He will not let their enemies harm them.
When they are sick in bed,
    the Lord will give them strength and make them well!

I say, “Lord, be kind to me.
    I sinned against you, but forgive me and make me well.”
My enemies say bad things about me.
    They ask, “When will he die and be forgotten?”
If they come to see me,
    they don’t say what they are really thinking.
They come to gather a little gossip
    and then go to spread their rumors.
Those who hate me whisper about me.
    They think the worst about me.
They say, “He did something wrong.
    That is why he is sick.
    He will never get well.”
My best friend, the one I trusted,
    the one who ate with me—even he has turned against me.
10 Lord, please be kind to me.
    Let me get up, and I will pay them back.
11 Don’t let my enemy defeat me.
    Then I will know that you care for me.
12 I was innocent and you supported me.
    You let me stand and serve you forever.

13 Praise the Lord, the God of Israel.
    He always was, and he always will be.

Amen and Amen!

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 41:1 Or “Those who teach the poor will be very fortunate.”

Psalm 41[a]

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

Blessed(A) are those who have regard for the weak;(B)
    the Lord delivers them in times of trouble.(C)
The Lord protects(D) and preserves them—(E)
    they are counted among the blessed in the land—(F)
    he does not give them over to the desire of their foes.(G)
The Lord sustains them on their sickbed(H)
    and restores them from their bed of illness.(I)

I said, “Have mercy(J) on me, Lord;
    heal(K) me, for I have sinned(L) against you.”
My enemies say of me in malice,
    “When will he die and his name perish?(M)
When one of them comes to see me,
    he speaks falsely,(N) while his heart gathers slander;(O)
    then he goes out and spreads(P) it around.

All my enemies whisper together(Q) against me;
    they imagine the worst for me, saying,
“A vile disease has afflicted him;
    he will never get up(R) from the place where he lies.”
Even my close friend,(S)
    someone I trusted,
one who shared my bread,
    has turned[b] against me.(T)

10 But may you have mercy(U) on me, Lord;
    raise me up,(V) that I may repay(W) them.
11 I know that you are pleased with me,(X)
    for my enemy does not triumph over me.(Y)
12 Because of my integrity(Z) you uphold me(AA)
    and set me in your presence forever.(AB)

13 Praise(AC) be to the Lord, the God of Israel,(AD)
    from everlasting to everlasting.
Amen and Amen.(AE)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 41:1 In Hebrew texts 41:1-13 is numbered 41:2-14.
  2. Psalm 41:9 Hebrew has lifted up his heel

41 Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble.

The Lord will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies.

The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.

I said, Lord, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee.

Mine enemies speak evil of me, When shall he die, and his name perish?

And if he come to see me, he speaketh vanity: his heart gathereth iniquity to itself; when he goeth abroad, he telleth it.

All that hate me whisper together against me: against me do they devise my hurt.

An evil disease, say they, cleaveth fast unto him: and now that he lieth he shall rise up no more.

Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.

10 But thou, O Lord, be merciful unto me, and raise me up, that I may requite them.

11 By this I know that thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me.

12 And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever.

13 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.