Victory in spite of Betrayal

¹Happy is one who is considerate of the poor;

the Lord will save him in a day of adversity.

²The Lord will keep him and preserve him;

he will be blessed in the land.

You will not give him over to the desire of his enemies.

³The Lord will sustain him on his sick-bed;

you will heal him on the bed where he lies.

⁴I said, ‘Lord , be gracious to me;

heal me, for I have sinned against you.’

⁵My enemies speak maliciously about me:

‘When will he die and be forgotten? ’

⁶When one of them comes to visit, he speaks deceitfully;

he stores up evil in his heart;

he goes out and talks.

⁷All who hate me whisper together about me;

they plan to harm me.

⁸‘Something awful has overwhelmed him,[#41:8 Lit ‘A thing of worthlessness has been poured into him]

and he won’t rise again from where he lies! ’

⁹Even my friend in whom I trusted,[#41:9 Lit Even a man of my peace]

one who ate my bread,

has raised his heel against me.

¹⁰But you, Lord , be gracious to me and raise me up;

then I will repay them.

¹¹By this I know that you delight in me:[#41:11 Ps 37:23]

my enemy does not shout in triumph over me.

¹²You supported me because of my integrity[#41:12 Ps 37:17]

and set me in your presence for ever.

¹³Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,

from everlasting to everlasting.

Amen and amen.