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# Psalm 41
## Thanksgiving After Sickness
1 For the leader. A psalm of David. ^psalm-41-1
### I
2 Blessed the one concerned for the poor; ^psalm-41-2
on a day of misfortune, the LORD delivers him.
3 The LORD keeps and preserves him, ^psalm-41-3
makes him blessed in the land,
and does not betray him to his enemies.
4 The LORD sustains him on his sickbed, ^psalm-41-4
you turn down his bedding whenever he is ill.
### II
5 Even I have said, “LORD, take note of me; ^psalm-41-5
heal me, although I have sinned against you.
6 My enemies say bad things against me: ^psalm-41-6
‘When will he die and his name be forgotten?’
7 When someone comes to visit me, he speaks without sincerity. ^psalm-41-7
His heart stores up malice;
when he leaves, he gossips.
8 All those who hate me whisper together against me; ^psalm-41-8
they imagine the worst about me:
9 ‘He has had ruin poured over him; ^psalm-41-9
that one lying down will never rise again.’
10 Even my trusted friend, ^psalm-41-10
who ate my bread,
has raised his heel against me.
### III
11 “But you, LORD, take note of me to raise me up ^psalm-41-11
that I may repay them.”
12 By this I will know you are pleased with me, ^psalm-41-12
that my enemy no longer shouts in triumph over me.
13 In my integrity may you support me ^psalm-41-13
and let me stand in your presence forever.
14 Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, ^psalm-41-14
from all eternity and forever.
Amen. Amen.
\* (Psalm 41) A thanksgiving for rescue from illness ([Ps 41:4], [5], [9]). Many people, even friends, have interpreted the illness as a divine punishment for sin and have ostracized the psalmist ([Ps 41:5] – [11]). The healing shows the return of God’s favor and rebukes the psalmist’s detractors ([Ps 41:12] – [13]).
\* (41:2) Blessed the one concerned for the poor: cf. [Ps 32:1] – [2]; [34:9]; [40:5]; [65:5]. The psalmist’s statement about God’s love of the poor is based on the experience of being rescued ([Ps 41:1] – [3]).
\* (41:4) You turn down his bedding whenever he is ill: the Hebrew is obscure. It suggests ongoing attentive care of the one who is sick.
\* (41:10) Even my trusted friend…has raised his heel against me: [Jn 13:18] cites this verse to characterize Judas as a false friend. Raised his heel against me: an interpretation of the unclear Hebrew, “made great the heel against me.”
\* (41:11) That I may repay them: the healing itself is an act of judgment through which God decides for the psalmist and against the false friends. The prayer is not necessarily for strength to punish enemies.
\* (41:14) The doxology, not part of the Psalm, marks the end of the first of the five books of the Psalter, cf. [Ps 72:18] – [20]; [89:53]; [106:48].
a. (41:2) [Tb 4:7] – [11].
b. (41:7) [Ps 31:12]; [38:12] – [13]; [88:8]; [Jb 19:13] – [19]; [Jer 20:10].
c. (41:10) [Ps 55:14] – [15]; [Jn 13:18].
d. (41:14) [Neh 9:5].
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_New American Bible, revised edition_ (2010, 1991, 1986, 1970) Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C.
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