Psalm 41-42

Common English Bible

Psalm 41

For the music leader. A psalm of David.

41 Those who pay close attention to the poor are truly happy!
    The Lord rescues them during troubling times.
²The Lord protects them and keeps them alive;
    they are widely regarded throughout the land as happy people.
    You^[a] won’t hand them over to the will of their enemies.
³The Lord will strengthen them when they are lying in bed, sick.
    You will completely transform the place where they lie ill.

⁴But me? I said, “Lord, have mercy on me!
    Heal me because I have sinned against you.”
⁵My enemies speak maliciously about me:
    “When will he die and his name disappear?”
⁶Whenever they come to visit, they say nothing of value.
    Their hearts collect evil gossip;
    once they leave, they tell it to everybody.
⁷All of those who hate me talk about me, whispering to each other,
    plotting evil against me:
⁸“Some horrible thing has been poured into him;
    the next time he lies down, he won’t get up.”
⁹Even my good friend,
    the one I trusted,
    who shared my food,
    has kicked me with his heel—a betrayer!
¹⁰But you, Lord, please have mercy on me and lift me up
    so I can pay them back!
¹¹Then I’ll know you are pleased with me
    because my enemy won’t be shouting in triumph over me.
¹²You support me in my integrity;
    you put me in your presence forever.

¹³Bless the Lord, the God of Israel,
from forever to forever!
Amen and Amen!

BOOK II

(Psalms 42–72)

Psalm 42^[b]

For the music leader. A maskil^[c] of the Korahites.

42 Just like a deer that craves streams of water,
    my whole being^[d] craves you, God.
²My whole being thirsts for God, for the living God.
    When will I come and see God’s face?^[e]
³My tears have been my food both day and night,
    as people constantly questioned me,
    “Where’s your God now?”

⁴But I remember these things as I bare my soul:
    how I made my way to the mighty one’s abode,^[f]
    to God’s own house,
        with joyous shouts and thanksgiving songs—
        a huge crowd celebrating the festival!
⁵Why, I ask myself, are you so depressed?
    Why are you so upset inside?
Hope in God!
    Because I will again give him thanks,
        my saving presence and my God.

⁶My whole being is depressed.
    That’s why I remember you
    from the land of Jordan and Hermon,
        from Mount Mizar.
⁷Deep called to deep at the noise of your waterfalls;
    all your massive waves surged over me.
⁸By day the Lord commands his faithful love;
    by night his song is with me—
    a prayer to the God of my life.

⁹I will say to God, my solid rock,
    “Why have you forgotten me?
        Why do I have to walk around,
        sad, oppressed by enemies?”
¹⁰With my bones crushed, my foes make fun of me,
    constantly questioning me: “Where’s your God now?”

¹¹Why, I ask myself, are you so depressed?
    Why are you so upset inside?
        Hope in God!
        Because I will again give him thanks,
        my saving presence and my God.