Psalm 41

Victory in spite of Betrayal

For the choir director. A psalm of David.

Happy is one who is considerate of the poor;

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

2The Lord will keep him and preserve him;

he will be blessed in the land.a

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

3The Lord will sustain him on his sickbed;

you will heal him on the bed where he lies.a

4I said, “Lord, be gracious to me;

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

5My enemies speak maliciously about me:

“When will he die and be forgotten? ”a

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

he stores up evil in his heart;

he goes out and talks.a

7All who hate me whisper together about me;

they plan to harm me.a

8“Something awful has overwhelmed him,A

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

9Even my friendA in whom I trusted,

one who ate my bread,

has raised his heel against me.a

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

then I will repay them.a

11By this I know that you delight in me:a

my enemy does not shout in triumph over me.b

12You supported me because of my integritya

and set me in your presence forever.b

13Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,

from everlasting to everlasting.

Amen and amen.a

BOOK II

(Psalms 42–72)