Blessed Are Those Who Help the Poor
Study note
David declares that those who care for the weak will be blessed. God will protect them, keep them alive, and comfort them when they are sick.
1 How happy is the person who cares about those in need. When that person's own day of trouble arrives, the Lord will come to the rescue. Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.
2 The Lord will watch over them and keep them alive. They will be considered happy in the land. You will not hand them over to their enemies. The 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.
3 The Lord will hold them up when they are sick in bed. You restore them completely from their illness. The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.
Betrayed by a Friend
Study note
David cries out for mercy because he has sinned. His enemies wish for his death. Even his closest friend, who shared his bread, has turned against him.
4 I said, "Lord, be kind to me. Heal me, because I have sinned against you." I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee.
5 My foes say cruel things about me. They ask, "When will he die and be gone for good?" Mine enemies speak evil of me, When shall he die, and his name perish?
6 Whenever one of them pays me a visit, he speaks empty, meaningless words. Meanwhile, his heart is busy soaking up anything he can use against me. The moment he walks out the door, he spreads it around. And if he come to see me, he speaketh vanity: his heart gathereth iniquity to itself; when he goeth abroad, he telleth it.
7 Everyone who hates me huddles together and whispers about me. They are all plotting my downfall. All that hate me whisper together against me: against me do they devise my hurt.
8 "Something terrible has gotten hold of him," they say. "He's never getting up from that bed." An evil disease, say they, cleaveth fast unto him: and now that he lieth he shall rise up no more.
9 Even my closest friend -- someone I trusted completely, someone who shared meals with me -- has turned against me. Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.
God's Faithfulness
Study note
David asks God to raise him up. He knows God favors him because his enemy has not triumphed. God upholds David in his integrity forever. The psalm ends with a doxology closing Book 1 of the Psalms.
10 But you, Lord, be kind to me and lift me back up, so I can give them what they deserve. But thou, O LORD, be merciful unto me, and raise me up, that I may requite them.
11 Here is how I know you are pleased with me: my enemy does not get to celebrate over me. By this I know that thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me.
12 You hold me up because of my integrity and place me in your presence where I will stay forever. And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever.
13 All praise to the Lord, the God of Israel — from the beginning of time to the end of time. Amen and Amen. Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.