Psalms 41:1-7

1 Blessed is the one who has concern for helpless people. The LORD will rescue him in times of trouble.

2 The LORD will protect him and keep him alive. He will be blessed in the land. Do not place him at the mercy of his enemies.

3 The LORD will support him on his sickbed. You will restore this person to health when he is ill.

4 I said, "O LORD, have pity on me! Heal my soul because I have sinned against you."

5 My enemies say terrible things about me: "When will he die, and when will his family name disappear?"

6 When one of them comes to visit me, he speaks foolishly. His heart collects gossip. [Then] he leaves to tell others.

7 Everyone who hates me whispers about me. They think evil things about me and say,

Psalms 41:1-7 Meaning and Commentary

To the chief Musician, a Psalm of David. In this psalm is a prophecy concerning Christ, and concerning Judas Iscariot, as runs part of the title in the Syriac version; and in the Arabic version it is called a prophecy concerning the incarnation, and the salutation of Judas; and certain it is that Psalm 41:9 is to be understood of him, and of his betraying Christ into the hands of his enemies, since it is cited and applied to him by our Lord himself, John 13:18; so that having such a sure rule of interpretation, we may safely venture to explain the whole psalm of Christ, which treats both of his humiliation and exaltation; for it neither agrees with David wholly, nor with Hezekiah, to whom some ascribe it, as Theodoret remarks.