41:1 For the music director; a psalm of David.

How blessed ²  is the one who treats the poor properly! ³ 

When trouble comes, ⁴  the Lord delivers him. ⁵ 

41:2 May the Lord protect him and save his life! ⁶ 

May he be blessed ⁷  in the land!

Do not turn him over ⁸  to his enemies! ⁹ 

41:3 The Lord supports ¹⁰  him on his sickbed;

you completely heal him from his illness. ¹¹ 

41:4 As for me, I said: ¹² 

“O Lord, have mercy on me!

Heal me, for I have sinned against you!

41:5 My enemies ask this cruel question about me, ¹³ 

‘When will he finally die and be forgotten?’ ¹⁴ 

41:6 When someone comes to visit, ¹⁵  he pretends to be friendly; ¹⁶ 

he thinks of ways to defame me, ¹⁷ 

and when he leaves he slanders me. ¹⁸ 

41:7 All who hate me whisper insults about me to one another; ¹⁹ 

they plan ways to harm me.

41:8 They say, ²⁰ 

‘An awful disease ²¹  overwhelms him, ²² 

and now that he is bed-ridden he will never recover.’ ²³ 

41:9 Even my close friend ²⁴  whom I trusted,

he who shared meals with me, has turned against me. ²⁵ 

41:10 As for you, O Lord, have mercy on me and raise me up,

so I can pay them back!” ²⁶ 

41:11 By this ²⁷  I know that you are pleased with me,

for my enemy does ²⁸  not triumph ²⁹  over me.

41:12 As for me, you uphold ³⁰  me because of my integrity; ³¹ 

you allow ³²  me permanent access to your presence. ³³ 

41:13 The Lord God of Israel deserves praise ³⁴ 

in the future and forevermore! ³⁵ 

We agree! We agree! ³⁶