Christian prayer

Psalm 41

Psalm 41 from the Bible, in its original language and with its meaning.

13 verses
About 1 minute to recite
From the Bible

1
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.
2
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 strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.
4
I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee.
5
Mine enemies speak evil of me, When shall he die, and his name perish?
6
And if he come to see me, he speaketh vanity: his heart gathereth iniquity to itself; when he goeth abroad, he telleth it.
7
All that hate me whisper together against me: against me do they devise my hurt.
8
An evil disease, say they, cleaveth fast unto him: and now that he lieth he shall rise up no more.
9
Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.
10
But thou, O LORD, be merciful unto me, and raise me up, that I may requite them.
11
By this I know that thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me.
12
And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever.
13
Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.

The Hebrew original

1 לַמְנַצֵּ֗חַ מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִֽד׃

2 אַ֭שְׁרֵי מַשְׂכִּ֣יל אֶל־דָּ֑ל בְּי֥וֹם רָ֝עָ֗ה יְֽמַלְּטֵ֥הוּ יְהוָֽה׃

3 יְהוָ֤ה ׀ יִשְׁמְרֵ֣הוּ וִֽ֭יחַיֵּהוּ יאשר בָּאָ֑רֶץ וְאַֽל־תִּ֝תְּנֵ֗הוּ בְּנֶ֣פֶשׁ אֹיְבָֽיו׃

4 יְֽהוָ֗ה יִ֭סְעָדֶנּוּ עַל־עֶ֣רֶשׂ דְּוָ֑י כָּל־מִ֝שְׁכָּב֗וֹ הָפַ֥כְתָּ בְחָלְיֽוֹ׃

5 אֲֽנִי־אָ֭מַרְתִּי יְהוָ֣ה חָנֵּ֑נִי רְפָאָ֥ה נַ֝פְשִׁ֗י כִּי־חָטָ֥אתִי לָֽךְ׃

6 אוֹיְבַ֗י יֹאמְר֣וּ רַ֣ע לִ֑י מָתַ֥י יָ֝מ֗וּת וְאָבַ֥ד שְׁמֽוֹ׃

7 וְאִם־בָּ֤א לִרְא֨וֹת ׀ שָׁ֤וְא יְדַבֵּ֗ר לִבּ֗וֹ יִקְבָּץ־אָ֥וֶן ל֑וֹ יֵצֵ֖א לַח֣וּץ יְדַבֵּֽר׃

8 יַ֗חַד עָלַ֣י יִ֭תְלַחֲשׁוּ כָּל־שֹׂנְאָ֑י עָלַ֓י ׀ יַחְשְׁב֖וּ רָעָ֣ה לִֽי׃

9 דְּֽבַר־בְּ֭לִיַּעַל יָצ֣וּק בּ֑וֹ וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר שָׁ֝כַ֗ב לֹא־יוֹסִ֥יף לָקֽוּם׃

10 גַּם־אִ֤ישׁ שְׁלוֹמִ֨י ׀ אֲשֶׁר־בָּטַ֣חְתִּי ב֭וֹ אוֹכֵ֣ל לַחְמִ֑י הִגְדִּ֖יל עָלַ֣י עָקֵֽב׃

11 וְאַתָּ֤ה יְהוָ֗ה חָנֵּ֥נִי וַהֲקִימֵ֑נִי וַֽאֲשַׁלְּמָ֥ה לָהֶֽם׃

12 בְּזֹ֣את יָ֭דַעְתִּי כִּֽי־חָפַ֣צְתָּ בִּ֑י כִּ֤י לֹֽא־יָרִ֖יעַ אֹיְבִ֣י עָלָֽי׃

13 וַאֲנִ֗י בְּ֭תֻמִּי תָּמַ֣כְתָּ בִּ֑י וַתַּצִּיבֵ֖נִי לְפָנֶ֣יךָ לְעוֹלָֽם׃

14 בָּ֘ר֤וּךְ יְהוָ֨ה ׀ אֱלֹ֘הֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל מֵֽ֭הָעוֹלָם וְעַ֥ד הָעוֹלָ֗ם אָ֘מֵ֥ן ׀ וְאָמֵֽן׃

Wording: The Holy Bible, King James Version, 1611 (standard text of 1769). Copied word for word from the edition named here

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When it is prayed

Many Christians recite Psalm 41 during illness, loneliness, or the pain of betrayal. It can also be prayed when reflecting on care for people in need and asking for God's mercy. In the Christian tradition, its closing praise offers words of worship even in difficult circumstances.

During illness
Facing betrayal
Seeking mercy
Care for others

Where it comes from

Psalm 41 comes from the Book of Psalms in the Bible and was originally composed in Hebrew. Its heading associates it with David. The psalm moves from a blessing on those who care for the weak to a personal appeal for mercy and a closing declaration of praise.

In the libraryThe King James Version of the BibleSee the book

The Library of Alexandria

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Questions about Psalm 41

How many verses does Psalm 41 have?

Psalm 41 has 13 verses.

What is Psalm 41 about?

It speaks of care for the vulnerable, suffering in illness, and the hurt of betrayal by a trusted friend. The speaker asks God for mercy and affirms trust in God's sustaining care.

Who wrote Psalm 41?

Its biblical heading associates it with David, and Christian tradition commonly calls it a psalm of David.

How long does Psalm 41 take to recite?

It takes about 1 minute to recite, depending on your pace and pauses.

When can Christians pray Psalm 41?

Many Christians pray it during sickness or betrayal, or when seeking mercy. Its opening also invites reflection on how to care for people who are weak or in need.