Psalm 41

Victory in spite of Betrayal

For the choir director. A psalm of David.

Happy is one who is considerate of the poor;
the Lord will save him in a day of adversity.(A)
The Lord will keep him and preserve him;
he will be blessed in the land.(B)
You will not give him over to the desire of his enemies.(C)
The Lord will sustain him on his sickbed;
you will heal him on the bed where he lies.(D)

I said, “Lord, be gracious to me;
heal me, for I have sinned against you.”(E)
My enemies speak maliciously about me:
“When will he die and be forgotten?” (F)
When one of them comes to visit, he speaks deceitfully;
he stores up evil in his heart;
he goes out and talks.(G)
All who hate me whisper together about me;
they plan to harm me.(H)
“Something awful has overwhelmed him,[a]
and he won’t rise again from where he lies!” (I)
Even my friend[b] in whom I trusted,
one who ate my bread,
has raised his heel against me.(J)

10 But you, Lord, be gracious to me and raise me up;
then I will repay them.(K)
11 By this I know that you delight in me:(L)
my enemy does not shout in triumph over me.(M)
12 You supported me because of my integrity(N)
and set me in your presence forever.(O)

13 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting.
Amen and amen.(P)

Footnotes

  1. 41:8 Lit “A thing of worthlessness has been poured into him
  2. 41:9 Lit Even a man of my peace

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.
The 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.
The Lord will strengthen them when they are lying in bed, sick.
    You will completely transform the place where they lie ill.

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

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

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 41:2 LXX, Syr; Vulg God won’t