Psalms 41

1 For the music director. A psalm of David. How happy are those who take care of the poor! When they are in trouble the Lord will save them.

TO THE OVERSEER. A PSALM OF DAVID. O the blessedness of him Who is acting wisely to the poor, In a day of evil YHWH delivers him.

2 The Lord protects them and keeps them alive. They will live happily in the land, and they will not be handed over to their enemies.

YHWH preserves him and revives him, He is blessed in the land, And You do not give him into the will of his enemies.

3 The Lord looks after them when they're sick; he makes them well from their illness.

YHWH supports [him] on a bed of sickness, You have turned his bed in his weakness.

4 “Lord, please be gracious to me,” I asked. “Please heal me, for I have sinned against you.”

I said, “O YHWH, favor me, Heal my soul, for I sinned against You,”

5 Those who hate me only say evil things about me. “When is he going to die, and people forget all about him?” they ask.

My enemies say evil of me: When he dies—his name has perished!

6 They come to visit me, but their sympathy is not sincere. They're only interested in the bad news, which they spread around as soon as they leave.

And if he came to see—he speaks vanity, His heart gathers iniquity to itself, He goes out—at the street he speaks.

7 All who hate me talk in whispers about my condition, hoping for the worst.

All hating me whisper together against me, Against me they devise evil to me:

8 “He's been cursed with some terrible disease,” they say. “Now he's bed-ridden he'll never recover!”

A worthless thing is poured out on him, And because he lay down he does not rise again.

9 Even my best friend, the one I trusted, who shared meals with me—even he has turned against me.

Even my ally, in whom I trusted, One eating my bread, Made the heel great against me,

10 But you Lord, please be gracious to me, make me well so I can repay them!

And You, YHWH, favor me, And cause me to rise, And I give repayment to them.

11 I know you are pleased with me because you have not let my enemies win and shout in triumph over me.

By this I have known, That You have delighted in me, Because my enemy does not shout over me.

12 You have supported me because of my integrity, you have brought me into your presence forever.

As for me, in my integrity, You have taken hold on me, And cause me to stand before You for all time.

13 Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, from eternity to eternity! Amen and amen!

Blessed [is] YHWH, God of Israel, From age to age. Amen and Amen.