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1How blessed is the one who treats the poor properly![#tn The Hebrew noun is an abstract plural. The word often refers metonymically to the happiness that God-given security and prosperity produce (see Pss 1:1, 3; 2:12; 34:9; 65:4; 84:12; 89:15; 106:3; 112:1; 127:5; 128:1; 144:15).; #sn One who treats the poor properly. The psalmist is characterizing himself as such an individual and supplying a reason why God has responded favorably to his prayer. The Lord’s attitude toward the merciful mirrors their treatment of the poor.]
When trouble comes, the Lord delivers him.
2May the Lord protect him and save his life![#tn The prefixed verbal forms are taken as jussives in the translation because the jussive is clearly used in the final line of the verse, suggesting that this is a prayer. The psalmist stops to pronounce a prayer of blessing on the godly individual envisioned in v. 1. Of course, he actually has himself primarily in view. He mixes confidence (vv. 1, 3) with petition (v. 2) because he stands in the interval between the word of assurance and the actual intervention by God.]
May he be blessed in the land!
Do not turn him over to his enemies!
3The Lord supports him on his sickbed;[#tn The prefixed verbal form could be taken as jussive, continuing the prayer of v. 2, but the parallel line in v. 3b employs the perfect, suggesting that the psalmist is again speaking in the indicative mood (see v. 1b). The imperfect can be understood as future or as generalizing (see v. 1).]
you completely heal him from his illness.
4As for me, I said:[#sn In vv. 4-10 the psalmist recites the prayer of petition and lament he offered to the Lord.]
“O Lord , have mercy on me!
Heal me, for I have sinned against you!
5My enemies ask this cruel question about me,[#tn Heb “my enemies speak evil concerning me.”]
‘When will he finally die and be forgotten?’
6When someone comes to visit, he pretends to be friendly;[#tn Heb “to see.”; #tn Heb “he speaks deceitfully.”]
he thinks of ways to defame me,
and when he leaves he slanders me.
7All who hate me whisper insults about me to one another;[#tn Heb “together against me they whisper, all those who hate me.” The Hitpael of לָחַשׁ (lakhash) refers here to whispering to one another (see 2 Sam 12:19).]
they plan ways to harm me.
8They say,[#tn The words “they say” are not in the Hebrew text, but are supplied in the translation to make it clear that v. 8 contains a quotation of what the psalmist’s enemies say about him (see v. 7a).]
‘An awful disease overwhelms him,
and now that he is bed-ridden he will never recover.’
9Even my close friend whom I trusted,[#tn Heb “man of my peace.” The phrase here refers to one’s trusted friend (see Jer 38:22; Obad 7).]
he who shared meals with me, has turned against me.
10As for you, O Lord , have mercy on me and raise me up,
so I can pay them back!”
11By this I know that you are pleased with me,[#sn By this. Having recalled his former lament and petition, the psalmist returns to the confident mood of vv. 1-3. The basis for his confidence may be a divine oracle of deliverance, assuring him that God would intervene and vindicate him. The demonstrative pronoun “this” may refer to such an oracle, which is assumed here, though its contents are not included. See P. C. Craigie, Psalms 1-50 (WBC), 319, 321.]
for my enemy does not triumph over me.
12As for me, you uphold me because of my integrity;[#tn Or “have upheld.” The perfect verbal form can be taken as generalizing/descriptive (present) or as a present perfect.; #sn Because of my integrity. See Pss 7:8; 25:21; 26:1, 11.]
you allow me permanent access to your presence.
13The Lord God of Israel deserves praise[#tn Heb “[be] blessed.” See Pss 18:46; 28:6; 31:21.]
in the future and forevermore!
We agree! We agree!