< Psalms 41 >

1 Unto the end, a psalm for David himself. Blessed is he that understandeth concerning the needy and the poor: the Lord will deliver him in the evil day.
For the Leader. A Psalm of David. Happy is he that considereth the poor; the LORD will deliver him in the day of evil.
2 The Lord preserve him and give him life, and make him blessed upon the earth: and deliver him not up to the will of his enemies.
The LORD preserve him, and keep him alive, let him be called happy in the land; and deliver not Thou him unto the greed of his enemies.
3 The Lord help him on his bed of sorrow: thou hast turned all his couch in his sickness.
The LORD support him upon the bed of illness; mayest Thou turn all his lying down in his sickness.
4 I said: O Lord, be thou merciful to me: heal my soul, for I have sinned against thee.
As for me, I said: 'O LORD, be gracious unto me; heal my soul; for I have sinned against Thee.'
5 My enemies have spoken evils against me: when shall he die and his name perish?
Mine enemies speak evil of me: 'When shall he die, and his name perish?'
6 And if he came in to see me, he spoke vain things: his heart gathered together iniquity to itself. He went out and spoke to the same purpose.
And if one come to see me, he speaketh falsehood; his heart gathereth iniquity to itself; when he goeth abroad, he speaketh of it.
7 All my enemies whispered together against me: they devised evils to me.
All that hate me whisper together against me, against me do they devise my hurt:
8 They determined against me an unjust word: shall he that sleepeth rise again no more?
'An evil thing cleaveth fast unto him; and now that he lieth, he shall rise up no more.'
9 For even the man of peace, in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, hath greatly supplanted me.
Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, who did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.
10 But thou, O Lord, have mercy on me, and raise me up again: and I will requite them.
But Thou, O LORD, be gracious unto me, and raise me up, that I may requite them.
11 By this I know, that thou hast had a good will for me: because my enemy shall not rejoice over me.
By this I know that Thou delightest in me, that mine enemy doth not triumph over me.
12 But thou hast upheld me by reason of my innocence: and hast established me in thy sight for ever.
And as for me, Thou upholdest me because of mine integrity, and settest me before Thy face for ever.
13 Blessed by the Lord the God of Israel from eternity to eternity. So be it. So be it.
Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.

< Psalms 41 >