41 1 David being grievously afflicted, blesseth them that pity his case, 9 and complaineth of the treason of his own friends and familiars, as came to pass in Judas, John 13:18. After he feeling the great mercies of God gently chastising him, and not suffering his enemies to triumph against him, 13 giveth most hearty thanks to God.
To him that excelleth. A Psalm of David.
1 Blessed is he that [a]judgeth wisely of the poor: the Lord shall deliver him in the time of trouble.
2 The Lord will keep him and preserve him alive, he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies.
3 The Lord will strengthen him upon the [b]bed of sorrow: thou hast turned all his [c]bed in his sickness.
4 Therefore I said, Lord have mercy upon me: heal my soul, for I have sinned against thee.
5 Mine enemies [d]speak evil of me, saying, When shall he die, and his name perish?
6 And if he come to see me, he speaketh [e]lies, but his heart heapeth iniquity within him, and when he cometh forth, he telleth it.
7 All they that hate me whisper together against me: even against me do they imagine mine hurt.
8 [f]A mischief is light upon him, and he that lieth, shall no more rise.
9 Yea, my [g]familiar friend, whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, [h]hath lifted up the heel against me.
10 Therefore, O Lord, have mercy upon me, and raise me up: so shall I reward them.
11 By this I know that thou favorest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph against me.
12 And as for me thou upholdest me [i]in mine integrity, and dost set me before thy [j]face forever.
13 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel world without end. [k]So be it, even so be it.
Footnotes
- Psalm 41:1 Not condemning him as accursed whom God doth visit, knowing that there are divers causes why God layeth his hand upon us, yea and afterward he restoreth us.
- Psalm 41:3 When for sorrow and grief of mind he calleth himself upon his bed.
- Psalm 41:3 Thou hast restored him in his sick bed and sent him comfort.
- Psalm 41:5 That is, curse me and cannot have their cruel hate quenched, but with my shameful death.
- Psalm 41:6 For pretending to comfort me, he conspireth my death in his heart, and braggeth thereof.
- Psalm 41:8 The enemies thought by his sharp punishments that God was become his mortal enemy.
- Psalm 41:9 Hebrew, the man of my peace.
- Psalm 41:9 As David felt this falsehood, and as it was chiefly accomplished in Christ, John 13:18, so shall his members continually prove the same.
- Psalm 41:12 Meaning, either in prosperity of life, or in the true fear of God against all tentations.
- Psalm 41:12 Showing me evident signs of thy fatherly providence.
- Psalm 41:13 By this repetition he stirreth up the faithful to praise God.