41 1-3 Dignify those who are down on their luck;
    you’ll feel good—that’s what God does.
God looks after us all,
    makes us robust with life—
Lucky to be in the land,
    we’re free from enemy worries.
Whenever we’re sick and in bed,
    God becomes our nurse,
    nurses us back to health.

4-7 I said, “God, be gracious!
    Put me together again—
    my sins have torn me to pieces.”
My enemies are wishing the worst for me;
    they make bets on what day I will die.
If someone comes to see me,
    he mouths empty platitudes,
All the while gathering gossip about me
    to entertain the street-corner crowd.
These “friends” who hate me
    whisper slanders all over town.
They form committees
    to plan misery for me.

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The Lord protects(A) and preserves them—(B)
    they are counted among the blessed in the land—(C)
    he does not give them over to the desire of their foes.(D)
The Lord sustains them on their sickbed(E)
    and restores them from their bed of illness.(F)

I said, “Have mercy(G) on me, Lord;
    heal(H) me, for I have sinned(I) against you.”

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