Psalms 41

1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. Blessed [is] he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in the time of trouble.

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 preserve him, and keep him alive; [and] he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver 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 strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.

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

4 I said, LORD, be merciful to me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee.

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

5 My enemies speak evil of me, When shall 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 And if he cometh to see [me], he speaketh vanity: his heart gathereth iniquity to itself; [when] he goeth abroad, he telleth [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 that hate me whisper together against me: against me do they devise my hurt.

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

8 An evil disease, [say they], cleaveth fast to him: and [now] that he lieth he shall rise no more.

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

9 Yes, my own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, who ate of my bread, hath 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 thou, O LORD, be merciful to me, and raise me up, that I may requite them.

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

11 By this I know that thou favorest me, because my enemy doth not 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 And as for me, thou upholdest me in my integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever.

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

13 Blessed [be] the LORD 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!