Blessed is he who considers the poor

David faced many enemies in his time, not only from foreign kings but those close to him who lied to him and those who have eaten from his own table. Despite all this, David has always trusted God to deliver him from trouble and from his enemies.

The LORD has delivered him, kept him alive, strengthened him, raised him up and most of all set him up before the face of God forever.


Psalm 41

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

 1 Blessed is he who considers the poor;
         The LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.
 2 The LORD will preserve him and keep him alive,
         And he will be blessed on the earth;
         You will not deliver him to the will of his enemies.
 3 The LORD will strengthen him on his bed of illness;
         You will sustain him on his sickbed.
       
 4 I said, “LORD, be merciful to me;
         Heal my soul, for I have sinned against You.”
 5 My enemies speak evil of me:
         “When will he die, and his name perish?”
 6 And if he comes to see me, he speaks lies;
         His heart gathers iniquity to itself;
         When he goes out, he tells it.
       
 7 All who hate me whisper together against me;
         Against me they devise my hurt.
 8 “An evil disease,” they say, “clings to him.
         And now that he lies down, he will rise up no more.”
 9 Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted,
         Who ate my bread,
         Has lifted up his heel against me.
       
 10 But You, O LORD, be merciful to me, and raise me up,
         That I may repay them.
 11 By this I know that You are well pleased with me,
         Because my enemy does not triumph over me.
 12 As for me, You uphold me in my integrity,
         And set me before Your face forever.
       
 13 Blessed be the LORD God of Israel
         From everlasting to everlasting!
         Amen and Amen.