Psalms 41
Psalms 41 is part of “Book I: The Genesis Book” (1–41) in the outline of Psalms.
Psalms 41 summary
God's kindness and truth have often been the support and comfort of the saints when they have had most experience of man's unkindness and treachery. David here found them so, upon a sick-bed; he found his enemies very barbarous, but his God very gracious. I. He here comforts himself in his communion with God under his sickness, by faith receiving and laying hold of God's promises to him (Psa 41:1-3) and lifting up his heart in prayer to God (Psa 41:4).
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God's kindness and truth have often been the support and comfort of the saints when they have had most experience of man's unkindness and treachery. David here found them so, upon a sick-bed; he found his enemies very barbarous, but his God very gracious. I. He here comforts himself in his communion with God under his sickness, by faith receiving and laying hold of God's promises to him (Psa 41:1-3) and lifting up his heart in prayer to God (Psa 41:4). II. He here represents the malice of his enemies against him, their malicious censures of him, their spiteful reflections upon him, and their insolent conduct towards him (Psa 41:5-9). III. He leaves his case with God, not doubting but that he would own and favour him (Psa 41:10-12), and so the psalm concludes with a doxology (Psa 41:13). Is any afflicted with sickness? let him sing the beginning of this psalm. Is any persecuted by enemies? let him sing the latter end of it; and we may any of us, in singing it, meditate upon both the calamities and comforts of good people in this world. To the chief musician. A psalm of David.
Source: Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Psalms 41 (GNV)
Geneva Bible 1599 (public domain)
Blessed Is the One Who Considers the Poor
1To him that excelleth. A Psalme of Dauid. Blessed is he that iudgeth wisely of the poore: the Lord shall deliuer him in ye time of trouble. 2The Lord will keepe him, and preserue him aliue: he shalbe blessed vpon the earth, and thou wilt not deliuer him vnto the will of his enemies. 3The Lord wil strengthen him vpon ye bed of sorow: thou hast turned al his bed in his sicknes. 4Therefore I saide, Lord haue mercie vpon me: heale my soule, for I haue sinned against thee. 5Mine enemies speake euill of me, saying, When shall he die, and his name perish? 6And if hee come to see mee, hee speaketh lies, but his heart heapeth iniquitie within him, and when he commeth foorth, he telleth it. 7All they that hate me, whisper together against me: euen against me do they imagine mine hurt. 8A mischiefe is light vpon him, and he that lyeth, shall no more rise. 9Yea, my familiar friend, whom I trusted, which did eate of my bread, hath lifted vp the heele against me. 10Therefore, O Lord, haue mercy vpon mee, and raise me vp: so I shall reward them. 11By this I know that thou fauourest me, because mine enemie doth not triumph against me. 12And as for me, thou vpholdest me in mine integritie, and doest set me before thy face for euer. 13Blessed be the Lord God of Israel worlde without ende. So be it, euen so be it.