The Blessing and Suffering of the Godly
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.
1 Blessedishe who considers the poor;
TheLordwill deliver him in time of trouble.
2 TheLordwill preserve him and keep him alive,
Andhe will be blessed on the earth;
# You will not deliver him to the will of his enemies.
3 TheLordwill strengthen him on his bed of illness;
You will sustain him on his sickbed.
4 I said, “Lord, be merciful to me;
# Heal my soul, for I have sinned against You.”
5 My enemies speak evil of me:
“When will he die, and his name perish?”
6 And if he comes to seeme,he speaks lies;
His heart gathers iniquity to itself;
Whenhe goes out, he tellsit.
7 All who hate me whisper together against me;
Against me they devise my hurt.
8 “An evil disease,”theysay,“clings to him.
Andnowthat he lies down, he will rise up no more.”
9 Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted,
# Who ate my bread,
Has lifted uphisheel against me.
10 But You, OLord, be merciful to me, and raise me up,
That I may repay them.
11 By this I know that You are well pleased with me,
Because my enemy does not triumph over me.
12 As for me, You uphold me in my integrity,
# Andset me before Your face forever.
13 BlessedbetheLordGod of Israel
From everlasting to everlasting!
Amen and Amen.