Psalm 41-42

Psalm 41

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

1Blessed are those who have regard for the weak;

the Lord delivers them in times of trouble.

2The Lord protects and preserves them—

they are counted among the blessed in the land—

he does not give them over to the desire of their foes.

3The Lord sustains them on their sickbed

and restores them from their bed of illness.

4I said, “Have mercy on me, Lord;

heal me, for I have sinned against you.”

5My enemies say of me in malice,

“When will he die and his name perish?”

6When one of them comes to see me,

he speaks falsely, while his heart gathers slander;

then he goes out and spreads it around.

7All my enemies whisper together against me;

they imagine the worst for me, saying,

8“A vile disease has afflicted him;

he will never get up from the place where he lies.”

9Even my close friend,

someone I trusted,

one who shared my bread,

has turnedagainst me.

10But may you have mercy on me, Lord;

raise me up, that I may repay them.

11I know that you are pleased with me,

for my enemy does not triumph over me.

12Because of my integrity you uphold me

and set me in your presence forever.

13Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,

from everlasting to everlasting.

Amen and Amen.

Psalm 42

For the director of music. A maskilof the Sons of Korah.

1As the deer pants for streams of water,

so my soul pants for you, my God.

2My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.

When can I go and meet with God?

3My tears have been my food

day and night,

while people say to me all day long,

“Where is your God?”

4These things I remember

as I pour out my soul:

how I used to go to the house of God

under the protection of the Mighty One

with shouts of joy and praise

among the festive throng.

5Why, my soul, are you downcast?

Why so disturbed within me?

Put your hope in God,

for I will yet praise him,

my Savior and my God.

6My soul is downcast within me;

therefore I will remember you

from the land of the Jordan,

the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar.

7Deep calls to deep

in the roar of your waterfalls;

all your waves and breakers

have swept over me.

8By day the Lord directs his love,

at night his song is with me—

a prayer to the God of my life.

9I say to God my Rock,

“Why have you forgotten me?

Why must I go about mourning,

oppressed by the enemy?”

10My bones suffer mortal agony

as my foes taunt me,

saying to me all day long,

“Where is your God?”

11Why, my soul, are you downcast?

Why so disturbed within me?

Put your hope in God,

for I will yet praise him,

my Savior and my God.