Psalms 41

1 For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. Blessed is he who considers the poor. The LORD will deliver him in the day of evil.

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.

2 The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive. He shall be blessed on the earth, and he will not surrender him to the will of his enemies.

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

3 The LORD will sustain him on his sickbed, and restore him from his bed of illness.

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

4 I said, “LORD, have mercy on me! Heal me, for I have sinned against you.”

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

5 My enemies speak evil against me: “When will he die, and his name perish?”

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

6 If he comes to see me, he speaks falsehood. His heart gathers iniquity to itself. When he goes abroad, he tells it.

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.

7 All who hate me whisper together against me. They imagine the worst for me.

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

8 “An evil disease”, they say, “has afflicted him. Now that he lies he shall rise up no more.”

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

9 Yes, my own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, who ate bread with me, has lifted up his heel against me.

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

10 But you, LORD, have mercy on me, and raise me up, that I may repay them.

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

11 By this I know that you delight in me, because my enemy doesn’t triumph over me.

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

12 As for me, you uphold me in my integrity, and set me in your presence forever.

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

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

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