Psalms 41

1 [For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David.] Blessed is he who considers the poor and needy. The LORD will deliver him in the day of evil.

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.

2 The LORD will protect him, and keep him alive. He shall be blessed on the earth, and he will not surrender him to the will of his enemies.

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.

3 The LORD will sustain him on his sickbed, and restore him from his bed of illness.

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

4 I said, "LORD, have mercy on me. Heal me, for I have sinned against you."

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

5 My enemies speak evil against me: "When will he die, and his name perish?"

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

6 If he comes to see me, he speaks falsehood. His heart gathers iniquity to itself. When he goes abroad, he tells it.

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.

7 All who hate me whisper together against me. They imagine the worst for me.

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

8 "A wicked thing is poured out on him; and he who lies down will not rise again."

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

9 Even my own close friend, in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.

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

10 But you, LORD, have mercy on me, and raise me up, that I may repay them.

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

11 By this I know that you delight in me, because my enemy doesn't triumph over me.

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

12 As for me, you uphold me in my integrity, and set me in your presence forever.

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

13 Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting and to everlasting. Amen and amen.

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