Psalm 41

Victory in Spite of Betrayal

For the choir director. A Davidic psalm.

1 Happy is one who cares for the poor;

the Lord will save him in a day of adversity. w

2 The Lord will keep him and preserve him;

he will be blessed in the land. x

You will not give him over to the desire of his enemies. y

3 The Lord will sustain him on his sickbed;

You will heal him on the bed where he lies. z

4 I said, “Lord, be gracious to me;

heal me, for I have sinned against You.” a

5 My enemies speak maliciously about me:

“When will he die and be forgotten?” b

6 When one of them comes to visit, he speaks deceitfully;

he stores up evil in his heart;

he goes out and talks. c

7 All who hate me whisper together about me;

they plan to harm me. d

8 “Lethal poison has been poured into him,

and he won’t rise again from where he lies!” e

9 Even my friend f in whom I trusted,

one who ate my bread,

has raised his heel against me. g

10 But You, Lord, be gracious to me and raise me up;

then I will repay them. h

11 By this I know that You delight in me: i

my enemy does not shout in triumph over me. j

12 You supported me because of my integrity k

and set me in Your presence forever. l

13 May * Yahweh, the God of Israel, be praised

from everlasting to everlasting.

* Amen and amen. m