Corpus Psalterium · Vol. II
Psalm XLI (41)
Cantillated — Lament Turning
Paul Whitehorn
Study the Word
Psalm 41 in Hebrew and English, and the words as they are sung.
For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David.
לַמְנַצֵּ֗חַ מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִֽד׃
Blessed is he who considers the poor. Yahweh will deliver him in the day of evil.
אַ֭שְׁרֵי מַשְׂכִּ֣יל אֶל־דָּ֑ל בְּי֥וֹם רָ֝עָ֗ה יְֽמַלְּטֵ֥הוּ יְהוָֽה׃
Yahweh will preserve him, and keep him alive. He shall be blessed on the earth, and he will not surrender him to the will of his enemies.
יְהוָ֤ה ׀ יִשְׁמְרֵ֣הוּ וִֽ֭יחַיֵּהוּ יאשר בָּאָ֑רֶץ וְאַֽל־תִּ֝תְּנֵ֗הוּ בְּנֶ֣פֶשׁ אֹיְבָֽיו׃
Yahweh will sustain him on his sickbed, and restore him from his bed of illness.
יְֽהוָ֗ה יִ֭סְעָדֶנּוּ עַל־עֶ֣רֶשׂ דְּוָ֑י כָּל־מִ֝שְׁכָּב֗וֹ הָפַ֥כְתָּ בְחָלְיֽוֹ׃
I said, “Yahweh, have mercy on me! Heal me, for I have sinned against you.”
אֲֽנִי־אָ֭מַרְתִּי יְהוָ֣ה חָנֵּ֑נִי רְפָאָ֥ה נַ֝פְשִׁ֗י כִּי־חָטָ֥אתִי לָֽךְ׃
My enemies speak evil against me: “When will he die, and his name perish?”
אוֹיְבַ֗י יֹאמְר֣וּ רַ֣ע לִ֑י מָתַ֥י יָ֝מ֗וּת וְאָבַ֥ד שְׁמֽוֹ׃
If he comes to see me, he speaks falsehood. His heart gathers iniquity to itself. When he goes abroad, he tells it.
וְאִם־בָּ֤א לִרְא֨וֹת ׀ שָׁ֤וְא יְדַבֵּ֗ר לִבּ֗וֹ יִקְבָּץ־אָ֥וֶן ל֑וֹ יֵצֵ֖א לַח֣וּץ יְדַבֵּֽר׃
All who hate me whisper together against me. They imagine the worst for me.
יַ֗חַד עָלַ֣י יִ֭תְלַחֲשׁוּ כָּל־שֹׂנְאָ֑י עָלַ֓י ׀ יַחְשְׁב֖וּ רָעָ֣ה לִֽי׃
“An evil disease”, they say, “has afflicted him. Now that he lies he shall rise up no more.”
דְּֽבַר־בְּ֭לִיַּעַל יָצ֣וּק בּ֑וֹ וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר שָׁ֝כַ֗ב לֹא־יוֹסִ֥יף לָקֽוּם׃
Yes, my own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, who ate bread with me, has lifted up his heel against me.
גַּם־אִ֤ישׁ שְׁלוֹמִ֨י ׀ אֲשֶׁר־בָּטַ֣חְתִּי ב֭וֹ אוֹכֵ֣ל לַחְמִ֑י הִגְדִּ֖יל עָלַ֣י עָקֵֽב׃
But you, Yahweh, have mercy on me, and raise me up, that I may repay them.
וְאַתָּ֤ה יְהוָ֗ה חָנֵּ֥נִי וַהֲקִימֵ֑נִי וַֽאֲשַׁלְּמָ֥ה לָהֶֽם׃
By this I know that you delight in me, because my enemy doesn’t triumph over me.
בְּזֹ֣את יָ֭דַעְתִּי כִּֽי־חָפַ֣צְתָּ בִּ֑י כִּ֤י לֹֽא־יָרִ֖יעַ אֹיְבִ֣י עָלָֽי׃
As for me, you uphold me in my integrity, and set me in your presence forever.
וַאֲנִ֗י בְּ֭תֻמִּי תָּמַ֣כְתָּ בִּ֑י וַתַּצִּיבֵ֖נִי לְפָנֶ֣יךָ לְעוֹלָֽם׃
Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, from everlasting and to everlasting! Amen and amen.
בָּ֘ר֤וּךְ יְהוָ֨ה ׀ אֱלֹ֘הֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל מֵֽ֭הָעוֹלָם וְעַ֥ד הָעוֹלָ֗ם אָ֘מֵ֥ן ׀ וְאָמֵֽן׃
Hebrew: Westminster Leningrad Codex (public domain), from the Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible. English: World English Bible (public domain). Verse numbers follow the English Bible; the Hebrew numbering is shown beneath where it differs.
Blessed the one who sees the weak
Blessed the one who knows the poor
In the day of trouble You will save
You will lift, You will restore
You keep him, You give him life
You set him in the land secure
Do not hand him to the will of enemies
You are his shield, You endure
On the bed of pain You hold him
Every sickness turned by You
You sustain, You sustain
Have mercy on me, O Lord
Have mercy on me
Heal my soul, I have sinned
I have sinned against Thee
Have mercy on me
Have mercy on me
Enemies speak evil over me
When will he die, his name be gone
They come near with empty hearts
Then carry lies when they have gone
All who hate me whisper low
They imagine evil still
They rise, they rise
Have mercy on me, O Lord
Have mercy on me
Heal my soul, I have sinned
I have sinned against Thee
Have mercy on me
Have mercy on me
Even my friend, my peace, my bread
The one I trusted lifts his heel
But You, O Lord, be gracious now
Raise me up, restore, make me stand
I know, I know You delight in me
My enemy will not prevail
You hold me in my integrity
You set me before Your face
Have mercy on me, O Lord
Have mercy on me
Heal my soul, I have sinned
I have sinned against Thee
You lift me up, You make me stand
Forever before Your face
Blessed be the Lord, God of Israel
From everlasting to everlasting
Amen, Amen
Lyrics by Paul Whitehorn: a singable English rendering of the Hebrew, as sung on this recording.
Corpus Psalterium sets each psalm to music by its Hebrew grammar. Didactic psalms teach; Cantillated psalms are spoken, sung or performed before God. Hear all 150 psalms free.