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A Prayer in Sickness[a]

41 Happy are those who are concerned for the poor;
    the Lord will help them when they are in trouble.
The Lord will protect them and preserve their lives;
    he will make them happy in the land;
    he will not abandon them to the power of their enemies.
The Lord will help them when they are sick
    and will restore them to health.

I said, “I have sinned against you, Lord;
    be merciful to me and heal me.”
My enemies say cruel things about me.
    They want me to die and be forgotten.
Those who come to see me are not sincere;
    they gather bad news about me
    and then go out and tell it everywhere.
All who hate me whisper to each other about me,
    they imagine the worst about[b] me.
They say, “He is fatally ill;
    he will never leave his bed again.”
(A)Even my best friend, the one I trusted most,
    the one who shared my food,
    has turned against me.

10 Be merciful to me, Lord, and restore my health,
    and I will pay my enemies back.
11 They will not triumph over me,
    and I will know that you are pleased with me.
12 You will help me, because I do what is right;
    you will keep me in your presence forever.

13 (B)Praise the Lord, the God of Israel!
Praise him now and forever!

Amen! Amen!

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 41:1 HEBREW TITLE: A psalm by David.
  2. Psalm 41:7 imagine the worst about; or make evil plans to harm.

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