Psalms 41

1 For the leader; for Jeduthun. A psalm of David. Happy are those who consider the weak; in the day of misfortune the Lord will deliver them.

To the chief music-maker. A Psalm. Of David. Happy is the man who gives thought to the poor; the Lord will be his saviour in the time of trouble.

2 He will keep them safe, happy, and long in the land, and not give them up to the rage of their foes.

The Lord will keep him safe, and give him life; the Lord will let him be a blessing on the earth, and will not give him into the hand of his haters.

3 The Lord will sustain them on bed of languishing; tending their sickness, as long as they lie.

The Lord will be his support on his bed of pain: by you will all his grief be turned to strength.

4 For this cause I say, ‘Lord, show me your favour; heal me, because I have sinned against you.’

I said, Lord, have mercy on me; make my soul well, because my faith is in you.

5 My enemies speak of me nothing but evil, ‘When will he die, and his name pass away?’

My haters say evil against me, When will he be dead, and his name come to an end?

6 When one comes to see me, their words ring hollow; their heart keeps gathering mischief the while; and when they go out, they give it speech.

If one comes to see me, deceit is in his heart; he keeps a store of evil, which he makes public in every place.

7 In secret they whisper together against me, all those who hate me plot evil against me.

All my haters are talking secretly together against me; they are designing my downfall.

8 ‘Some fatal disease has fastened upon him; and now that he lies, he will rise up no more.’

They say, He has an evil disease, which will not let him go: and now that he is down he will not get up again.

9 My most trusted friend, on whom I relied, who ate of my bread, has turned against me.

Even my dearest friend, in whom I had faith, who took bread with me, is turned against me.

10 But do you, Lord, graciously raise me up, that I may pay them their due reward.

But you, O Lord, have mercy on me, lifting me up, so that I may give them their punishment.

11 By this will I know you delight in me: if my foes may not shout over me in triumph.

By this I see that you have pleasure in me, because my hater does not overcome me.

12 For my innocence you uphold me, and set me forever before your face.

And as for me, you are my support in my righteousness, giving me a place before your face for ever.

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

May the Lord God of Israel be praised, through eternal days and for ever. So be it. So be it.