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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.

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.

As for me, I said, “Lord, be gracious to me;
(F)Heal my soul, for (G)I have sinned against You.”
My enemies (H)speak evil against me,
“When will he die, and his name perish?”
And [e]when he comes to see me, he (I)speaks [f]empty words;
His heart gathers wickedness to itself;
When he goes outside, he tells it.
All who hate me whisper together against me;
They (J)plot my harm against me, saying,
“A wicked thing is poured out [g]upon him,
So that when he lies down, he will (K)not get up again.”
Even my [h](L)close friend in whom I trusted,
Who ate my bread,
Has lifted up his heel against me.

10 But You, Lord, be gracious to me and (M)raise me up,
That I may repay them.
11 By this I know that (N)You are pleased with me,
Because (O)my enemy does not shout in triumph over me.
12 As for me, (P)You uphold me in my integrity,
And You place me (Q)in Your presence forever.

13 (R)Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
From everlasting to everlasting.
Amen and Amen.

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
  5. Psalm 41:6 Or if he
  6. Psalm 41:6 Lit worthlessness
  7. Psalm 41:8 Or within
  8. Psalm 41:9 Lit man of peace