Psalm 41 - Blessed Is He That Considereth the Poor
A psalm on caring for the poor that turns to the pain of betrayal by a close friend.
Psalm 41 follows the deliverance narrative of Psalms 40 by opening with a blessing on the one who considers the poor, promising that the LORD will preserve, strengthen, and heal such a person in time of trouble. David then asks for mercy on his own soul, confessing, "I have sinned against thee."
<To the chief music-maker. A Psalm. Of David.> Happy is the man who gives thought to the poor; the Lord will be his saviour in the time of trouble.
The Lord will keep him safe, and give him life; the Lord will let him be a blessing on the earth, and will not give him into the hand of his haters.
The Lord will be his support on his bed of pain: by you will all his grief be turned to strength.
I said, Lord, have mercy on me; make my soul well, because my faith is in you.
My haters say evil against me, When will he be dead, and his name come to an end?
If one comes to see me, deceit is in his heart; he keeps a store of evil, which he makes public in every place.
All my haters are talking secretly together against me; they are designing my downfall.
They say, He has an evil disease, which will not let him go: and now that he is down he will not get up again.
Even my dearest friend, in whom I had faith, who took bread with me, is turned against me.
But you, O Lord, have mercy on me, lifting me up, so that I may give them their punishment.
By this I see that you have pleasure in me, because my hater does not overcome me.
And as for me, you are my support in my righteousness, giving me a place before your face for ever.
May the Lord God of Israel be praised, through eternal days and for ever. So be it. So be it.