Psalm 41

How fortunate are those who provide for the poor; God will rescue those people when they have troubles.

God will protect them and allow them to live for a long time. He will enable them to be happy in the land of Israel and will rescue them from their enemies.

When they are sick, God will strengthen them and will heal them.

When I was sick, I said, "God, act mercifully toward me and heal me; I know that I am sick because I have sinned against you."

My enemies say cruel things about me; they say, "How soon will he die, and then everyone will forget about him?"

When my enemies come to me, they pretend to be concerned about me. They eagerly listen to all the bad news about me. Then they go away and tell everyone what is happening to me.

All those who hate me whisper to others about me, and they hope that very bad things will happen to me.

They say, "He will soon die because of his being sick; he will never get up from his bed before he dies."

Even a very close friend, whom I trusted very much, who often ate with me, has betrayed me.

But God, act mercifully to me, and enable me to become healthy again. When you do that, I will be able to pay back my enemies.

If you enable me to do that, with the result that my enemies do not defeat me, I will know that you are pleased with me.

I will know that it is because I have done what is right that you have helped me, and I will know that you will enable me to be with you forever.

Praise God, the God whom we Israelites worship; Praise him forever! Amen! I desire that it will be so!