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41 God blesses those who are kind to the poor. He helps them out of their troubles. He protects them and keeps them alive; he publicly honors them and destroys the power of their enemies. He nurses them when they are sick and soothes their pains and worries.[a]

“O Lord,” I prayed, “be kind and heal me, for I have confessed my sins.” But my enemies say, “May he soon die and be forgotten!” They act so friendly when they come to visit me while I am sick; but all the time they hate me and are glad that I am lying there upon my bed of pain. And when they leave, they laugh and mock. They whisper together about what they will do when I am dead. “It’s fatal, whatever it is,” they say. “He’ll never get out of that bed!”

Even my best friend has turned against me—a man I completely trusted; how often we ate together. 10 Lord, don’t you desert me! Be gracious, Lord, and make me well again so I can pay them back! 11 I know you are pleased with me because you haven’t let my enemies triumph over me. 12 You have preserved me because I was honest; you have admitted me forever to your presence.

13 Bless the Lord, the God of Israel, who exists from everlasting ages past—and on into everlasting eternity ahead. Amen and amen!

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 41:3 He nurses them when they are sick and soothes their pains and worries, literally, “You make all his bed in his sickness.”

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