Skip to content

While enduring illness and the malice of his enemy, David prays to the Lord.

  • by

BibleGateway: Psalm 41

ESV Text: Psalm 41

Psalm 41 (Listen)

O Lord, Be Gracious to Me

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.


41:1   Blessed is the one who considers the poor!1
    In the day of trouble the LORD delivers him;
  the LORD protects him and keeps him alive;
    he is called blessed in the land;
    you do not give him up to the will of his enemies.
  The LORD sustains him on his sickbed;
    in his illness you restore him to full health.2


  As for me, I said, “O LORD, be gracious to me;
    heal me,3 for I have sinned against you!”
  My enemies say of me in malice,
    “When will he die, and his name perish?”
  And when one comes to see me, he utters empty words,
    while his heart gathers iniquity;
    when he goes out, he tells it abroad.
  All who hate me whisper together about me;
    they imagine the worst for me.4


  They say, “A deadly thing is poured out5 on him;
    he will not rise again from where he lies.”
  Even my close friend in whom I trusted,
    who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.
10   But you, O LORD, be gracious to me,
    and raise me up, that I may repay them!


11   By this I know that you delight in me:
    my enemy will not shout in triumph over me.
12   But you have upheld me because of my integrity,
    and set me in your presence forever.


13   Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
    from everlasting to everlasting!
      Amen and Amen.

Footnotes

[1] 41:1 Or weak

[2] 41:3 Hebrew you turn all his bed

[3] 41:4 Hebrew my soul

[4] 41:7 Or they devise evil against me

[5] 41:8 Or has fastened

(ESV)


KJV Text: Psalms 41:1-13

Right click here to save the file for off-line use.

KJV Text (alt. audio): Chapter 41:

     1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble. 2 The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies. 3 The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness. 4 I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee.

     5 Mine enemies speak evil of me, When shall he die, and his name perish? 6 And if he come to see me, he speaketh vanity: his heart gathereth iniquity to itself; when he goeth abroad, he telleth it. 7 All that hate me whisper together against me: against me do they devise my hurt. 8 An evil disease, say they, cleaveth fast unto him: and now that he lieth he shall rise up no more. 9 Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me. 10 But thou, O LORD, be merciful unto me, and raise me up, that I may requite them. 11 By this I know that thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me. 12 And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever. 13 Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.(KJV)


Hymn: WS 777 : Amazing Grace — How Sweet the Sound

Hymnary.org

1. Amazing grace how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind but now I see.

2. The Lord has promised good to me;
His Word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures.

3. Through many dangers, toils, and snares
I have already come;
‘Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

4. When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’d first begun.


Hymn: LSB 744 : Amazing Grace

Hymnary.org

1. Amazing grace–how sweet the sound–
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind but now I see!

2. The Lord has promised good to me,
His Word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures.

3. Through many dangers, toils, and snares
I have already come;
His grace has brought me safe thus far,
His grace will lead me home.

4. Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail
And mortal life shall cease,
Amazing grace shall then prevail
In heaven’s joy and peace.

5. When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’d first begun.