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Assurance of God’s Help and a Plea for Healing

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

41 Blessed is he who considers the poor![a]
    The Lord delivers him in the day of trouble;
the Lord protects him and keeps him alive;
    he is called blessed in the land;
    thou dost not give him up to the will of his enemies.
The Lord sustains him on his sickbed;
    in his illness thou healest all his infirmities.[b]

As for me, I said, “O Lord, be gracious to me;
    heal me, for I have sinned against thee!”
My enemies say of me in malice:
    “When will he die, and his name perish?”
And when one comes to see me, he utters empty words,
    while his heart gathers mischief;
    when he goes out, he tells it abroad.
All who hate me whisper together about me;
    they imagine the worst for me.

They say, “A deadly thing has fastened upon him;
    he will not rise again from where he lies.”
Even my bosom friend in whom I trusted,
    who ate of my bread, has lifted his heel against me.
10 But do thou, O Lord, be gracious to me,
    and raise me up, that I may requite them!

11 By this I know that thou art pleased with me,
    in that my enemy has not triumphed over me.
12 But thou hast upheld me because of my integrity,
    and set me in thy presence for ever.

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

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 41:1 Or weak
  2. Psalm 41:3 Heb thou changest all his bed

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