THE *BOOK OF
PSALMS.
Psalm 41 ©
David, being fallen into a severe sickness or some other great anxiety, he describes the blessing which they shall obtain at God’s hand who carry themselves piously and compassionately towards the afflicted. He prays to God for favor, and complains very affectingly of the bitterness of his false friends, especially of the unfaithfulness of a special one, who was a type of the traitor Judas; yet assures himself of God’s favor and heartily praises Him.
To the chief 1Musician, A Psalm of David.
BLESSED is he that considereth the 2poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of 3trouble.
The LORD will preserve him, and keep him 4alive; and he shall be blessed upon the 5earth: and thou wilt not 6deliver him unto the 7will of his enemies.
The LORD will strengthen him upon the 8bed of languishing: thou wilt 9make all his bed in his sickness.
I 10said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee.
11Mine enemies speak evil of me, When shall he die, and his name perish?
And if he come to 12see me, he speaketh 13vanity: his heart gathereth 14iniquity to itself; when he 15goeth abroad, he telleth it.
All that hate me 16whisper together against me: 17against me do they devise my hurt.
An evil disease, say they, 18cleaveth fast unto him: and now that he lieth he shall rise up 19no more.
Yea, mine own familiar 20friend, in whom I trusted, whicha did eat of my 21bread, hath 22lifted up his heel against me.
But thou, O LORD, be merciful unto me, and raise me up, that I may 23requite them.
By this I 24know that thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth not 25triumph over me.
And as for me, thou 26upholdest me in mine integrity, and 27settest me before thy face for ever.
28Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. 29Amen, and 30Amen.