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A Prayer in Time of Sickness

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

41 ·Happy [Blessed] are those who ·think about [or care for] the poor [James 1:27].
    ·When trouble comes [L In the day of trouble/evil], the Lord will ·save [rescue; T deliver] them.
The Lord will ·protect [guard; keep] them and ·spare their life [keep them alive]
    and will ·bless them [make them happy] in the land.
    He will not ·let their enemies take them [L give their lives to their enemy; or give them over to the desire of their enemy].
The Lord will give them strength when they are ·sick [L on their sickbed],
    and he will ·make them well again [L restore them from their bed of illness].

I said, “Lord, have ·mercy [compassion] 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 [L his name/reputation perish]?”
Some people come to see me,
    but ·they lie [L speak deceptive/vain things].
·They just come to get bad news [L Their hearts collect iniquities].
    Then they go ·and gossip [L out and speak].
All ·my enemies [L those who hate me] whisper about me
    and ·think [imagine] ·the worst [trouble; evil] about me.
They say, “·He has a terrible disease [or An evil spell has been cast on him].
    He ·will never get out of bed again [L lies down and will not get up].”
·My best and truest friend [L A man of peace in whom I trust/find support], who ate at my table,
    has ·even turned against me [L lifted his heel against me; C an act of treachery; 55:12–14; Matt. 26:23; Mark 14:18; Luke 22:21; John 13:18].

10 Lord, have ·mercy [compassion] on me.
    ·Give me strength [L Raise me up] so I can pay them back.
11 Because my enemies do not ·defeat [triumph over; or make fun of] me,
    I know you are ·pleased [delighted] with me.
12 Because I am ·innocent [blameless], you support me
    and will ·let me be with you [L set me in your presence] forever.

13 ·Praise [Blessed be] the Lord, the God of Israel.
    ·He has always been [L …from everlasting to everlasting],
    and he will always be.

Amen and amen [C verse 13 is a doxology that closes Book 1].

The Psalmist in Sickness Complains of Enemies and False Friends.

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

41 Blessed [by God’s grace and compassion] is he who considers the helpless;
The Lord will save him in the day of trouble.

The Lord will protect him and keep him alive;
And he will be called blessed in the land;
You do not hand him over to the desire of his enemies.

The Lord will sustain and strengthen him on his sickbed;
In his illness, You will restore him to health.


As for me, I said, “O Lord, be gracious to me;
Heal my soul, for I have sinned against You.”

My enemies speak evil of me, saying,
“When will he die and his name perish?”

And when one comes to see me, he speaks empty words,
While his heart gathers malicious gossip [against me];
When he goes away, he tells it [everywhere].

All who hate me whisper together about me;
Against me they devise my hurt [imagining the worst for me], saying,

“A wicked thing is poured out upon him and holds him;
And when he lies down, he will not rise up again.”

Even my own close friend in whom I trusted,
Who ate my bread,
Has lifted up his heel against me [betraying me].(A)

10 
But You, O Lord, be gracious to me and [a]restore me [to health],
So that I may repay them.
11 
By this I know that You favor and delight in me,
Because my enemy does not shout in triumph over me.
12 
As for me, You uphold me in my integrity,
And You set me in Your presence forever.

13 
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
From everlasting to everlasting [from this age to the next, and forever].
Amen and Amen (so be it).

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 41:10 Lit raise me up.