Psalm 41⁴⁰

For the music director; a psalm of David
41:1 How happy¹ is the one who treats the poor properly!²
When trouble comes³ the LORD delivers him.⁴
41:2 May the LORD protect him and save his life!⁵
May he be blessed⁶ in the land!
Do not turn him over⁷ to his enemies!⁸
41:3 The LORD supports⁹ him on his sickbed;
you completely heal him from his illness.¹⁰
41:4 As for me, I said:¹¹
“O LORD, have mercy on me!
Heal me, for I have sinned against you!
41:5 My enemies ask this cruel question about me,¹²
‘When will he finally die and be forgotten?’¹³
41:6 When someone comes to visit,¹⁴ he pretends to be friendly,¹⁵
he thinks of ways to defame me,¹⁶
and when he leaves he slanders me.¹⁷
41:7 All who hate me whisper insults about me to one another,¹⁸
they plan ways to harm me.
41:8 They say,¹⁹
‘An awful disease²⁰ overwhelms him,²¹
and now that he is bed-ridden he will never recover.’²²
41:9 Even my close friend²³ whom I trusted,
he who shared meals with me, has turned against me.²⁴
41:10 As for you, O LORD, have mercy on me and raise me up,
so I can pay them back!”²⁵
41:11 By this²⁶ I know that you are pleased with me,
for my enemy does²⁷ not triumph²⁸ over me.
41:12 As for me, you uphold²⁹ me because of my integrity,³⁰
you allow³¹ me permanent access to your presence.³²
41:13 The LORD God of Israel deserves praise³³
in the future and forevermore!³⁴
We agree! We agree!³⁵