1For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. Blessed is the person who cares for the poor. Yahweh will rescue him in times of trouble.
2Yahweh will protect him and keep him alive. He will be blessed on the earth, and God will not hand him over to his enemies’ desires.
3Yahweh will support him when he is sick in bed and will restore him from his illness.
4I said, “Yahweh, have mercy on me! Heal me, because I have sinned against you.”
5My enemies say evil things about me: “When will he die, and his name be forgotten?”
6If someone comes to visit me, he speaks falsely. His heart collects evil thoughts. When he leaves, he spreads rumors.
7All those who hate me whisper together against me. They imagine the worst for me.
8They say, “A terrible disease has struck him down. Now that he is lying ill, he will never get up again.”
9Even my close friend, whom I trusted, who ate bread with me, has turned against me.
10But you, Yahweh, have mercy on me and raise me up, so that I may repay them.
11By this I know that you are pleased with me, because my enemy does not triumph over me.
12As for me, you support me because I am innocent, and you keep me in your presence forever.
13May Yahweh, the God of Israel, be praised forever and ever! Amen and amen.