Psalm 41

1 Ein Psalm Davids, vorzusingen. Wohl dem, der sich des Dürftigen annimmt! Den wird der HERR erretten zur bösen Zeit.

2 Der HERR wird ihn bewahren und beim Leben erhalten und es ihm lassen wohl gehen auf Erden und wird ihn nicht geben in seiner Feinde Willen.

3 Der HERR wird ihn erquicken auf seinem Siechbette; du hilfst ihm von aller Krankheit.

4 Ich sprach: HERR, sei mir gnädig, heile meine Seele; denn ich habe an dir gesündigt.

5 Meine Feinde reden Arges gegen mich: "Wann wird er sterben und sein Name vergehen?"

6 Sie kommen, daß sie schauen, und meinen's doch nicht von Herzen; sondern suchen etwas, das sie lästern mögen, gehen hin und tragen's aus.

7 Alle, die mich hassen, raunen miteinander wider mich und denken Böses über mich.

8 Sie haben ein Bubenstück über mich beschlossen: "Wenn er liegt, soll er nicht wieder aufstehen."

9 Auch mein Freund, dem ich mich vertraute, der mein Brot aß, tritt mich unter die Füße.

10 Du aber, HERR, sei mir gnädig und hilf mir auf, so will ich sie bezahlen.

11 Dabei merke ich, daß du Gefallen an mir hast, daß mein Feind über mich nicht jauchzen wird.

12 Mich aber erhältst du um meiner Frömmigkeit willen und stellst mich vor dein Angesicht ewiglich.

13 Gelobet sei der HERR, der Gott Israels, von nun an bis in Ewigkeit! Amen, amen.

Psalm 41 Commentary

Chapter 41

God's care for his people. (1-4) The treachery of David's enemies. (5-13)

Verses 1-4 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.

Verses 5-13 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.

Chapter Summary

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.