Add parallel Print Page Options

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

41 Blessed are those who care about weak people.
    When they are in trouble, the Lord saves them.
The Lord guards them and keeps them alive.
    They are counted among those who are blessed in the land.
    The Lord won’t hand them over to the wishes of their enemies.
The Lord will take care of them when they are lying sick in bed.
    He will make them well again.

I said, “Lord, have mercy on me.
    Heal me, because I have sinned against you.”
My enemies are saying bad things about me.
    They say, “When will he die and his name be forgotten?”
When one of them comes to see me,
    he says things that aren’t true.
At the same time, he thinks up lies to tell against me.
    Then he goes out and spreads those lies around.

All my enemies whisper to each other about me.
    They want something terrible to happen to me.
They say, “He is sick and will die very soon.
    He will never get up from his bed again.”
Even my close friend, someone I trusted, has failed me.
    I even shared my bread with him.

10 But Lord, may you have mercy on me.
    Make me well, so I can pay them back.
11 Then I will know that you are pleased with me,
    because my enemies haven’t won the battle over me.
12 You will take good care of me because I’ve been honest.
    You will let me be with you forever.

13 Give praise to the Lord, the God of Israel,
    for ever and ever.
Amen and Amen.

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