Psalm 41

International Children’s Bible

A Prayer in Time of Sickness

For the director of music. A song of David.

41 Happy is the person who thinks about the poor.
    When trouble comes, the Lord will save him.
²The Lord will protect him and spare his life.
    The Lord will bless him in the land.
    The Lord will not let his enemies take him.
³The Lord will give him strength when he is sick.
    The Lord will make him well again.

⁴I said, “Lord, be kind to me.
    Heal me because I have sinned against you.”
⁵My enemies are saying bad things about me.
    They say, “When will he die and be forgotten?”
⁶Some people come to see me.
    But they lie.
They just come to get bad news.
    Then they go and gossip.
⁷All my enemies whisper about me.
    They think the worst about me.
⁸They say, “He has a terrible disease.
    He will never get out of bed again.”
⁹My best and truest friend ate at my table.
    Now even he has turned against me.

¹⁰Lord, have mercy on me.
    Give me strength so I can pay them back.
¹¹My enemies do not defeat me.
    That’s how I know you are pleased with me.
¹²Because I am innocent, you support me.
    You will let me be with you forever.

¹³Praise the Lord, the God of Israel.
He has always been,
and he will always be.

Amen and amen.