Psalm 41

The Psalmist in Sickness Complains of Enemies and False Friends.

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

1Blessed [by God’s grace and compassion] is he who considers the helpless;
The Lord will save him in the day of trouble.

The Lord will protect him and keep him alive;
And he will be called blessed in the land;
You do not hand him over to the desire of his enemies.

The Lord will sustain and strengthen him on his sickbed;
In his illness, You will restore him to health.


As for me, I said, “O Lord, be gracious to me;
Heal my soul, for I have sinned against You.”

My enemies speak evil of me, saying,
“When will he die and his name perish?”

And when one comes to see me, he speaks empty words,
While his heart gathers malicious gossip [against me];
When he goes away, he tells it [everywhere].

All who hate me whisper together about me;
Against me they devise my hurt [imagining the worst for me], saying,

“A wicked thing is poured out upon him and holds him;
And when he lies down, he will not rise up again.”

Even my own close friend in whom I trusted,
Who ate my bread,
Has lifted up his heel against me [betraying me].

10 
But You, O Lord, be gracious to me and [a]restore me [to health],
So that I may repay them.
11 
By this I know that You favor and delight in me,
Because my enemy does not shout in triumph over me.
12 
As for me, You uphold me in my integrity,
And You set me in Your presence forever.

13 
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
From everlasting to everlasting [from this age to the next, and forever].
Amen and Amen (so be it).

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 41:10 Lit raise me up.