(A psalm by David for the music leader.)
A Prayer in Time of Sickness
1 You, Lord God, bless everyone
who cares for the poor,
and you rescue those people
in times of trouble.
2 You protect them
and keep them alive.
You make them happy here
in this land,
and you don't hand them over
to their enemies.
3 You always heal them
and restore their strength
when they are sick.
4 I prayed, “Have pity, Lord!
Heal me, though I have sinned
against you.”
5 My vicious enemies ask me,
“When will you die
and be forgotten?”
6 When visitors come,
all they ever bring
are worthless words,
and when they leave,
they spread gossip.
7 My enemies whisper about me.
They think the worst,
8 and they say,
“You have some fatal disease!
You'll never get well.”
9 My most trusted friend
has turned against me,
though he ate at my table.
10 Have pity, Lord! Heal me,
so I can pay them back.
11 Then my enemies
won't defeat me,
and I will know
that you really care.
12 You have helped me
because I am innocent,
and you will always
be close to my side.
13 You, the Lord God of Israel,
will be praised forever!
Amen and amen.
1 To him that excelleth. A Psalme of Dauid. Blessed is he that iudgeth wisely of the poore: the Lord shall deliuer him in ye time of trouble. 2 The Lord will keepe him, and preserue him aliue: he shalbe blessed vpon the earth, and thou wilt not deliuer him vnto the will of his enemies. 3 The Lord wil strengthen him vpon ye bed of sorow: thou hast turned al his bed in his sicknes. 4 Therefore I saide, Lord haue mercie vpon me: heale my soule, for I haue sinned against thee. 5 Mine enemies speake euill of me, saying, When shall he die, and his name perish? 6 And if hee come to see mee, hee speaketh lies, but his heart heapeth iniquitie within him, and when he commeth foorth, he telleth it. 7 All they that hate me, whisper together against me: euen against me do they imagine mine hurt. 8 A mischiefe is light vpon him, and he that lyeth, shall no more rise. 9 Yea, my familiar friend, whom I trusted, which did eate of my bread, hath lifted vp the heele against me. 10 Therefore, O Lord, haue mercy vpon mee, and raise me vp: so I shall reward them. 11 By this I know that thou fauourest me, because mine enemie doth not triumph against me. 12 And as for me, thou vpholdest me in mine integritie, and doest set me before thy face for euer. 13 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel worlde without ende. So be it, euen so be it.