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A Prayer in Time of Sickness

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

41 Happy are those who think about the poor.
    When trouble comes, the Lord will save them.
The Lord will protect them and spare their life
    and will bless them in the land.
    He will not let their enemies take them.
The Lord will give them strength when they are sick,
    and he will make them well again.

I said, “Lord, have mercy on me.
    Heal me, because I have sinned against you.”
My enemies are saying evil things about me.
    They say, “When will he die and be forgotten?”
Some people come to see me,
    but they lie.
They just come to get bad news.
    Then they go and gossip.
All my enemies whisper about me
    and think the worst about me.
They say, “He has a terrible disease.
    He will never get out of bed again.”
My best and truest friend, who ate at my table,
    has even turned against me.

10 Lord, have mercy on me.
    Give me strength so I can pay them back.
11 Because my enemies do not defeat me,
    I know you are pleased with me.
12 Because I am innocent, you support me
    and will let me be with you forever.

13 Praise the Lord, the God of Israel.
    He has always been,
    and he will always be.
Amen and amen.

Psalm 41[a]

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

Blessed(A) are those who have regard for the weak;(B)
    the Lord delivers them in times of trouble.(C)
The Lord protects(D) and preserves them—(E)
    they are counted among the blessed in the land—(F)
    he does not give them over to the desire of their foes.(G)
The Lord sustains them on their sickbed(H)
    and restores them from their bed of illness.(I)

I said, “Have mercy(J) on me, Lord;
    heal(K) me, for I have sinned(L) against you.”
My enemies say of me in malice,
    “When will he die and his name perish?(M)
When one of them comes to see me,
    he speaks falsely,(N) while his heart gathers slander;(O)
    then he goes out and spreads(P) it around.

All my enemies whisper together(Q) against me;
    they imagine the worst for me, saying,
“A vile disease has afflicted him;
    he will never get up(R) from the place where he lies.”
Even my close friend,(S)
    someone I trusted,
one who shared my bread,
    has turned[b] against me.(T)

10 But may you have mercy(U) on me, Lord;
    raise me up,(V) that I may repay(W) them.
11 I know that you are pleased with me,(X)
    for my enemy does not triumph over me.(Y)
12 Because of my integrity(Z) you uphold me(AA)
    and set me in your presence forever.(AB)

13 Praise(AC) be to the Lord, the God of Israel,(AD)
    from everlasting to everlasting.
Amen and Amen.(AE)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 41:1 In Hebrew texts 41:1-13 is numbered 41:2-14.
  2. Psalm 41:9 Hebrew has lifted up his heel