Psalms41
New American Standard
1 Blessed is one who considers the helpless; The Lord will save him on a day of trouble.
2 The Lord will protect him and keep him alive, And he will be called blessed upon the earth; And do not turn him over to the desire of his enemies.
3 The Lord will sustain him upon his sickbed; In his illness, You restore him to health.
4 As for me, I said, “Lord, be gracious to me; Heal my soul, for I have sinned against You.”
5 My enemies speak evil against me, “When will he die, and his name perish?”
6 And when he comes to see me, he speaks empty words; His heart gathers wickedness to itself; When he goes outside, he tells it.
7 All who hate me whisper together against me; They plot my harm against me, saying,
8 “A wicked thing is poured out upon him, So that when he lies down, he will not get up again.”
9 Even my close friend in whom I trusted, Who ate my bread, Has lifted up his heel against me.
10 But You, Lord, be gracious to me and raise me up, That I may repay them.
11 By this I know that You are pleased with me, Because my enemy does not shout in triumph over me.
12 As for me, You uphold me in my integrity, And You place me in Your presence forever.
13 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, From everlasting to everlasting. Amen and Amen.
Study
Psalms 41Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Psalms 41. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: God's care for his people. (1–4). The treachery of David's enemies. (5–13).
vv1-4
The people of God are not free from poverty, sickness, or outward affliction, but the Lord will consider their case, and send due supplies. From his Lord's example the believer learns to consider his poor and afflicted brethren. This branch of godliness is usually recompensed with temporal blessings. But nothing is so distressing to the contrite believer, as a fear or sense of the Divine displeasure, or of sin in his heart. Sin is the sickness of the soul; pardoning mercy heals it, renewing grace heals it, and for this spiritual healing we should be more earnest than for bodily health.
vv5-13
We complain, and justly, of the want of sincerity, and that there is scarcely any true friendship to be found among men; but the former days were no better. One particularly, in whom David had reposed great confidence, took part with his enemies. And let us not think it strange, if we receive evil from those we suppose to be friends. Have not we ourselves thus broken our words toward God? We eat of his bread daily, yet lift up the heel against him. But though we may not take pleasure in the fall of our enemies, we may take pleasure in the making vain their designs. When we can discern the Lord's favour in any mercy, personal or public, that doubles it. If the grace of God did not take constant care of us, we should not be upheld. But let us, while on earth, give heartfelt assent to those praises which the redeemed on earth and in heaven render to their God and Saviour.
Key Words
נָצַח: properly, to glitter from afar, i.e. to be eminent (as a superintendent, especially of the Temple services and its music); to be permanent
מִזְמוֹר: properly, instrumental music; by implication, a poem set to notes
דָּוִד: David, the youngest son of Jesse
אֶשֶׁר: happiness; only in masculine plural construction as interjection, how happy!
שָׂכַל: to be (causatively, make or act) circumspect and hence, intelligent
דַּל: properly, dangling, i.e. (by implication) weak or thin
יוֹם: a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)
רַע: bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)
מָלַט: properly, to be smooth, i.e. (by implication) to escape (as if by slipperiness); causatively, to release or rescue; specifically, to bring forth young, emit sparks
שָׁמַר: properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.
Cross References
Psalms 41Explicitly quoted by Jesus as fulfilled in Judas's betrayal of Him: 'he that eateth bread with me...'
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin, JFB
Parallel lament of betrayal by an intimate, equal companion and trusted familiar friend.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Historical allusion to Ahithophel, David's trusted counselor who joined Absalom's conspiracy.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Direct parallel: showing mercy to the poor is a loan to the Lord, repaid with blessing.
Supported by JFB
Connects confessing sins and prayer with physical and spiritual healing.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Demonstrates the scriptural use of 'heal' to mean pardoning sin and restoring the soul.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Identical doxology closing Book 4 of Psalms, mirroring the conclusion of Book 1 here.
Supported by JFB
Parallel doxology closing Book 3 of the Psalms with 'Amen, and Amen.'
Supported by JFB
The physical act of dipping hand in the dish typifies the shared table in David's psalm.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Contrast of enemies shouting in triumph over David's downfall, which God prevents.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Integrity acts as a shield, ensuring God upholds and preserves the believer.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Like Job, David's physical affliction was misconstrued by others as a sign of divine rejection.
Supported by John Calvin