Psalms 41

1 Unto the end. A Psalm of David himself. Blessed is he who shows understanding toward the needy and the poor. The Lord will deliver him in the evil day.

For the leader; for Jeduthun. A psalm of David. Happy are those who consider the weak; in the day of misfortune the Lord will deliver them.

2 May the Lord preserve him and give him life, and make him blessed upon the earth. And may he not hand him over to the will of his adversaries.

He will keep them safe, happy, and long in the land, and not give them up to the rage of their foes.

3 May the Lord bring him help on his bed of sorrow. In his infirmity, you have changed his entire covering.

The Lord will sustain them on bed of languishing; tending their sickness, as long as they lie.

4 I said, “O Lord, be merciful to me. Heal my soul, because I have sinned against you.”

For this cause I say, ‘Lord, show me your favour; heal me, because I have sinned against you.’

5 My enemies have spoken evils against me. When will he die and his name perish?

My enemies speak of me nothing but evil, ‘When will he die, and his name pass away?’

6 And when he came in to see me, he was speaking emptiness. His heart gathered iniquity to itself. He went outside, and he was speaking in the same way.

When one comes to see me, their words ring hollow; their heart keeps gathering mischief the while; and when they go out, they give it speech.

7 All my enemies were whispering against me. They were thinking up evils against me.

In secret they whisper together against me, all those who hate me plot evil against me.

8 They established an unjust word against me. Will he that sleeps no longer rise again?

‘Some fatal disease has fastened upon him; and now that he lies, he will rise up no more.’

9 For even the man of my peace, in whom I hoped, who ate my bread, has greatly supplanted me.

My most trusted friend, on whom I relied, who ate of my bread, has turned against me.

10 But you, O Lord, have mercy on me, and raise me up again. And I will requite them.

But do you, Lord, graciously raise me up, that I may pay them their due reward.

11 By this, I knew that you preferred me: because my adversary will not rejoice over me.

By this will I know you delight in me: if my foes may not shout over me in triumph.

12 But you have sustained me, because of my innocence, and you have confirmed me in your sight in eternity.

For my innocence you uphold me, and set me forever before your face.

13 Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, for all generations and even forever. Amen. Amen.

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting, Amen and Amen.