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A Prayer in Time of Sickness

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

41 ·Happy [Blessed] are those who ·think about [or care for] the poor [James 1:27].
    ·When trouble comes [L In the day of trouble/evil], the Lord will ·save [rescue; T deliver] them.
The Lord will ·protect [guard; keep] them and ·spare their life [keep them alive]
    and will ·bless them [make them happy] in the land.
    He will not ·let their enemies take them [L give their lives to their enemy; or give them over to the desire of their enemy].
The Lord will give them strength when they are ·sick [L on their sickbed],
    and he will ·make them well again [L restore them from their bed of illness].

I said, “Lord, have ·mercy [compassion] on me.
    Heal me, because I have sinned against you.”
My enemies are saying evil things about me.
    They say, “When will he die and ·be forgotten [L his name/reputation perish]?”
Some people come to see me,
    but ·they lie [L speak deceptive/vain things].
·They just come to get bad news [L Their hearts collect iniquities].
    Then they go ·and gossip [L out and speak].
All ·my enemies [L those who hate me] whisper about me
    and ·think [imagine] ·the worst [trouble; evil] about me.
They say, “·He has a terrible disease [or An evil spell has been cast on him].
    He ·will never get out of bed again [L lies down and will not get up].”
·My best and truest friend [L A man of peace in whom I trust/find support], who ate at my table,
    has ·even turned against me [L lifted his heel against me; C an act of treachery; 55:12–14; Matt. 26:23; Mark 14:18; Luke 22:21; John 13:18].

10 Lord, have ·mercy [compassion] on me.
    ·Give me strength [L Raise me up] so I can pay them back.
11 Because my enemies do not ·defeat [triumph over; or make fun of] me,
    I know you are ·pleased [delighted] with me.
12 Because I am ·innocent [blameless], you support me
    and will ·let me be with you [L set me in your presence] forever.

13 ·Praise [Blessed be] the Lord, the God of Israel.
    ·He has always been [L …from everlasting to everlasting],
    and he will always be.

Amen and amen [C verse 13 is a doxology that closes Book 1].

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