Psalms 41

1 Yahweh is pleased with those people who help to provide for the poor; he will rescue those people when they have troubles.

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 Yahweh protects them and allows them to live [for a long time]. He enables them to be happy in the land [of Israel], and rescues them from their 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 When they are sick, Yahweh strengthens them, and he heals them.

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

4 [When I was sick], I said, “Yahweh, be merciful to me and heal me; [I know that I am sick because] 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 say cruel things about me; they say, “How soon will he die, and then everyone will forget about him [MTY]? (OR, he will not have [any descendants to continue] his name).”

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 When my enemies come to me, they falsely say that they [are concerned about me]. They listen to bad news about (me/my health). Then they go away and tell everywhere what is happening to me.

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 those who hate me whisper to others about me, and they hope/desire that very bad things will happen to me.

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

8 They say, “He will soon die because of his being sick; he will never get up from his bed [before he dies].”

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

9 Even my best friend, whom I trusted very much, who [often] ate with me, has (betrayed me/put me into my enemies’ hands) [IDM].

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

10 But Yahweh, be merciful to me, and enable me to become healthy [again]. When you do that, I will be able to (pay back my enemies/get revenge on my enemies/cause my enemies to suffer like they caused me to suffer).

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

11 [If you enable me to] do that, with the result that my enemies do not defeat me, I will know that you are pleased with me.

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

12 [I will know that] it is because I have done what is right that you have helped me, and [I will know that] you will let me be with you forever.

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

13 Praise Yahweh, the God whom we Israelis [worship]; Praise him forever! Amen! I desire that it will be so!

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