Psalms 41
What Happens in This Chapter
This psalm begins by saying that God takes care of people who care about the poor. Then the writer speaks about his own sickness. He tells God that enemies are waiting for him to die, and that even a close friend has turned against him. He asks God to be kind to him and lift him up, and the psalm ends with praise to God.
Plain reading written for kids. Short sentences, everyday words, one idea at a time.
Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.
1Happy is the person who cares about people who are poor. When trouble comes, the LORD will save him.
2The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies.
2The LORD will guard him and keep him alive. He will be blessed in the land. God will not hand him over to people who hate him.
3The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.
3When he is sick in bed, the LORD will hold him up. God will make him well again.
4I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee.
4I said, "LORD, be kind to me. Please heal me. I have sinned against you."
5Mine enemies speak evil of me, When shall he die, and his name perish?
5The people who hate me say cruel things. They ask, "When will he die and be forgotten?"
6And if he come to see me, he speaketh vanity: his heart gathereth iniquity to itself; when he goeth abroad, he telleth it.
6When one of them comes to visit me, he says things that are not true. Inside, he is collecting stories to spread. Then he goes out and tells them to everyone.
7All that hate me whisper together against me: against me do they devise my hurt.
7Everyone who hates me whispers about me. They plan ways to hurt me.
8An evil disease, say they, cleaveth fast unto him: and now that he lieth he shall rise up no more.
8They say, "A terrible sickness has hold of him. He is lying down. He will never get up again."
9Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.
9Even my close friend has turned against me. I trusted him. He ate meals at my table.
"Lifted up his heel against me" is an old way of saying someone turned against a friend and hurt him.
10But thou, O LORD, be merciful unto me, and raise me up, that I may requite them.
10But you, LORD, be kind to me. Lift me up again, so I can pay them back.
11By this I know that thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me.
11Here is how I know you are pleased with me. The one who hates me has not won.
12And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever.
12I have done what is right, and you hold me up. You let me stand with you forever.
13Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.
13Praise the LORD, the God of Israel, forever and forever. Amen. Amen.
"Amen" means "yes, this is true." Saying it twice makes it stronger.
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