HAVE REGARD FOR THE WEAK
Key verse: 1
NIV
Psalm 41[a]
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1 Blessed(A) are those who have regard for the weak;(B)
the Lord delivers them in times of trouble.(C)
2 The Lord protects(D) and preserves them—(E)
they are counted among the blessed in the land—(F)
he does not give them over to the desire of their foes.(G)
3 The Lord sustains them on their sickbed(H)
and restores them from their bed of illness.(I)
4 I said, “Have mercy(J) on me, Lord;
heal(K) me, for I have sinned(L) against you.”
5 My enemies say of me in malice,
“When will he die and his name perish?(M)”
6 When one of them comes to see me,
he speaks falsely,(N) while his heart gathers slander;(O)
then he goes out and spreads(P) it around.
7 All my enemies whisper together(Q) against me;
they imagine the worst for me, saying,
8 “A vile disease has afflicted him;
he will never get up(R) from the place where he lies.”
9 Even my close friend,(S)
someone I trusted,
one who shared my bread,
has turned[b] against me.(T)
Footnotes
- Psalm 41:1 In Hebrew texts 41:1-13 is numbered 41:2-14.
- Psalm 41:9 Hebrew has lifted up his heel
Cross references
- Psalm 41:1 : S Dt 14:29
- Psalm 41:1 : S Job 24:4
- Psalm 41:1 : Ps 25:17
- Psalm 41:2 : Ps 12:5; 32:7
- Psalm 41:2 : Ezr 9:9; Ps 71:20; 119:88, 159; 138:7; 143:11
- Psalm 41:2 : Ps 37:22
- Psalm 41:2 : S Dt 6:24
- Psalm 41:3 : Ps 6:6
- Psalm 41:3 : 2Sa 13:5; 2Ki 1:4
- Psalm 41:4 : Ps 6:2; S 9:13
- Psalm 41:4 : S Dt 32:39
- Psalm 41:4 : Ps 51:4
- Psalm 41:5 : S Ps 38:12
- Psalm 41:6 : Ps 12:2; 101:7; Mt 5:11
- Psalm 41:6 : Pr 26:24
- Psalm 41:6 : S Lev 19:16
- Psalm 41:7 : Ps 71:10
- Psalm 41:8 : S 2Ki 1:4
- Psalm 41:9 : S 2Sa 15:12; S Job 19:14
- Psalm 41:9 : Nu 30:2; Job 19:19; Ps 55:20; 89:34; Mt 26:23; Lk 22:21; Jn 13:18*
- Psalm 41:10 : ver 4
- Psalm 41:10 : Ps 3:3; 9:13
- Psalm 41:10 : S 2Sa 3:39
- Psalm 41:11 : S Nu 14:8
- Psalm 41:11 : Ps 25:2
- Psalm 41:12 : S Ps 25:21
- Psalm 41:12 : Ps 18:35; S 37:17; 63:8
- Psalm 41:12 : S Job 4:7; Ps 21:6; 61:7
- Psalm 41:13 : S Ge 24:27
- Psalm 41:13 : Ps 72:18
- Psalm 41:13 : Ps 72:19; 89:52; 106:48
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
O Lord, Be Gracious to Me
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.41 (A)Blessed is the one who considers the poor![a]
(B)In the day of trouble the Lord delivers him;
2 the Lord protects him and keeps him alive;
he is called blessed in the land;
you (C)do not give him up to the will of his enemies.
3 The Lord sustains him on his sickbed;
in his illness you restore him to full health.[b]
4 As for me, I said, “O Lord, (D)be gracious to me;
(E)heal me,[c] for I have sinned against you!”
5 My enemies say of me in malice,
“When will he die, and his name perish?”
6 And when one comes to see me, (F)he utters empty words,
while his heart gathers iniquity;
when he goes out, he tells it abroad.
7 All who hate me whisper together about me;
they imagine the worst for me.[d]
8 They say, “A deadly thing is poured out[e] on him;
he will not rise again from where he lies.”
9 Even my (G)close friend in whom I trusted,
who (H)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 (I)you delight in me:
my enemy will not shout in triumph over me.
12 But (J)you have upheld me because of (K)my integrity,
and (L)set me in your presence (M)forever.
13 (N)Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting!
Amen and Amen.
Read full chapter
Footnotes
- Psalm 41:1 Or weak
- Psalm 41:3 Hebrew you turn all his bed
- Psalm 41:4 Hebrew my soul
- Psalm 41:7 Or they devise evil against me
- Psalm 41:8 Or has fastened
Cross references
- Psalm 41:1 : Prov. 14:21
- Psalm 41:1 : Ps. 37:19
- Psalm 41:2 : Ps. 27:12
- Psalm 41:4 : Ps. 4:1
- Psalm 41:4 : Ps. 6:2; 147:3; 2 Chr. 30:20
- Psalm 41:6 : Ps. 12:2; 144:8
- Psalm 41:9 : Ps. 55:12, 13, 20; Job 19:13, 14, 19; Jer. 9:4; 20:10; Mic. 7:5; [2 Sam. 15:12]
- Psalm 41:9 : Cited John 13:18
- Psalm 41:11 : [2 Sam. 15:25, 26]
- Psalm 41:12 : Ps. 63:8
- Psalm 41:12 : Ps. 26:1
- Psalm 41:12 : Job 36:7
- Psalm 41:12 : Ps. 23:6
- Psalm 41:13 : Luke 1:68; [Ps. 72:18, 19; 89:52; 106:48; 150:6]
41 (A)Blessed is the one who considers the poor![a]
(B)In the day of trouble the Lord delivers him;
2 the Lord protects him and keeps him alive;
he is called blessed in the land;
you (C)do not give him up to the will of his enemies.
3 The Lord sustains him on his sickbed;
in his illness you restore him to full health.[b]
4 As for me, I said, “O Lord, (D)be gracious to me;
(E)heal me,[c] for I have sinned against you!”
5 My enemies say of me in malice,
“When will he die, and his name perish?”
6 And when one comes to see me, (F)he utters empty words,
while his heart gathers iniquity;
when he goes out, he tells it abroad.
7 All who hate me whisper together about me;
they imagine the worst for me.[d]
8 They say, “A deadly thing is poured out[e] on him;
he will not rise again from where he lies.”
9 Even my (G)close friend in whom I trusted,
who (H)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 (I)you delight in me:
my enemy will not shout in triumph over me.
12 But (J)you have upheld me because of (K)my integrity,
and (L)set me in your presence (M)forever.
13 (N)Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting!
Amen and Amen.
Footnotes
- Psalm 41:1 Or weak
- Psalm 41:3 Hebrew you turn all his bed
- Psalm 41:4 Hebrew my soul
- Psalm 41:7 Or they devise evil against me
- Psalm 41:8 Or has fastened
Cross references
- Psalm 41:1 : Prov. 14:21
- Psalm 41:1 : Ps. 37:19
- Psalm 41:2 : Ps. 27:12
- Psalm 41:4 : Ps. 4:1
- Psalm 41:4 : Ps. 6:2; 147:3; 2 Chr. 30:20
- Psalm 41:6 : Ps. 12:2; 144:8
- Psalm 41:9 : Ps. 55:12, 13, 20; Job 19:13, 14, 19; Jer. 9:4; 20:10; Mic. 7:5; [2 Sam. 15:12]
- Psalm 41:9 : Cited John 13:18
- Psalm 41:11 : [2 Sam. 15:25, 26]
- Psalm 41:12 : Ps. 63:8
- Psalm 41:12 : Ps. 26:1
- Psalm 41:12 : Job 36:7
- Psalm 41:12 : Ps. 23:6
- Psalm 41:13 : Luke 1:68; [Ps. 72:18, 19; 89:52; 106:48; 150:6]
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
When we experience grave trouble, nothing is more comforting and strengthening than God’s presence and promises. God often expresses his presence through his people who have regard for us in our weakness. We experience rich blessings through such people as they support us in our struggles. God calls such people blessed (1). The LORD protects them in their troubles. He sustains them when they themselves become sick (3).
The Psalmist also experiences trouble. He prayed for mercy and healing, connecting his trouble with his sin against God. Instead of helping him though, those around him wish malice upon him. His enemies hope he will die. Some come to visit him, but they only slander him before others. Even his close friend, someone he trusted and shared bread with, turned against him. The betrayal of a close friend was most painful. John 13:18 quotes verse 9 to describe Judas’ betrayal of Jesus.
Finally, he prays for the LORD’s mercy and to repay his enemies. He believes God will uphold him. He is not discouraged by those who abandon him but praises our everlasting God.
Will you have regard for the weak? Like Jesus, be a close friend of the weak. You will surely be blessed.
Prayer: Father, as you have had regard for me in my weakness, help me to likewise love others.
One Word: Love your neighbor as yourself
