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Psalm 41[a]

Thanksgiving After Sickness

For the leader. A psalm of David.

I

Blessed the one concerned for the poor;[b]
    on a day of misfortune, the Lord delivers him.(A)
The Lord keeps and preserves him,
    makes him blessed in the land,
    and does not betray him to his enemies.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 41 A thanksgiving for rescue from illness (Ps 41:4, 5, 9). Many people, even friends, have interpreted the illness as a divine punishment for sin and have ostracized the psalmist (Ps 41:5–11). The healing shows the return of God’s favor and rebukes the psalmist’s detractors (Ps 41:12–13).
  2. 41:2 Blessed the one concerned for the poor: cf. Ps 32:1–2; 34:9; 40:5; 65:5. The psalmist’s statement about God’s love of the poor is based on the experience of being rescued (Ps 41:1–3).

Assurance of God’s Help and a Plea for Healing

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

41 Blessed is he who considers the poor![a]
    The Lord delivers him in the day of trouble;
the Lord protects him and keeps him alive;
    he is called blessed in the land;
    thou dost not give him up to the will of his enemies.
The Lord sustains him on his sickbed;
    in his illness thou healest all his infirmities.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 41:1 Or weak
  2. Psalm 41:3 Heb thou changest all his bed

A Prayer in Sickness[a]

41 Happy are those who are concerned for the poor;
    the Lord will help them when they are in trouble.
The Lord will protect them and preserve their lives;
    he will make them happy in the land;
    he will not abandon them to the power of their enemies.
The Lord will help them when they are sick
    and will restore them to health.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 41:1 HEBREW TITLE: A psalm by David.

The Psalmist in Sickness Complains of Enemies and False Friends.

For the music director. A Psalm of David.

41 Blessed is one who (A)considers the [a]helpless;
The Lord will save him (B)on a day of [b]trouble.
The Lord will (C)protect him and keep him alive,
And he will be called [c](D)blessed upon the earth;
And (E)do not turn him over to the desire of his enemies.
The Lord will sustain him upon his sickbed;
In his illness, You [d]restore him to health.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 41:1 Or poor
  2. Psalm 41:1 Or evil
  3. Psalm 41:2 Or happy
  4. Psalm 41:3 Lit turn all his bed

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)

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 41:1 In Hebrew texts 41:1-13 is numbered 41:2-14.