Psalms 41

Psalm 41
sn Psalm 41. The psalmist is confident (vv. 11-12) that the Lord has heard his request to be healed (vv. 4-10), and he anticipates the joy he will experience when the Lord intervenes (vv. 1-3). One must assume that the psalmist is responding to a divine oracle of assurance (see P. C. Craigie, Psalms 1-50 [WBC], 319-20). The final verse is a fitting conclusion to this psalm, but it is also serves as a fitting conclusion to the first “book” (or major editorial division) of the Psalter. Similar statements appear at or near the end of each of the second, third, and fourth “books” of the Psalter (see Pss 72:19; 89:52, and 106:48 respectively).

For the music director, a psalm of David.

1 How blessed
tn The Hebrew noun is an abstract plural. The word often refers metonymically to the happiness that God-given security and prosperity produce (see Pss 1:1, 3; 2:12; 34:9; 65:4; 84:12; 89:15; 106:3; 112:1; 127:5; 128:1; 144:15).
is the one who treats the poor properly.
sn One who treats the poor properly. The psalmist is characterizing himself as such an individual and supplying a reason why God has responded favorably to his prayer. The Lord’s attitude toward the merciful mirrors their treatment of the poor.

When trouble comes,
tn Heb “in the day of trouble” (see Ps 27:5).
may
tn The prefixed verb יְמַלְּטֵהוּ (yemalletehu) has the form of the pronominal suffix typical of the jussive not the imperfect (יְמַלְּטֶנּוּ, yemalletennu). The jussive form continues throughout the next verse. The principle that begins v. 1 is the basis for the petition in vv. 1b-2. Verse 3 transitions to a statement of confidence and testimony.
the Lord deliver him.
tn That is, the one who has been kind to the poor.

2 May the Lord protect him and save his life.
tn The prefixed verbal forms are taken as jussives in the translation because of the form of the pronominal suffix (-ehu rather than -ennu) and because the jussive is clearly used in the final line of the verse.

May he be blessed
tc The translation follows the consonantal Hebrew text (Kethib), which has a Pual (passive) prefixed form, regarded here as a jussive. The Pual of the verb אָשַׁר (ʾashar) also appears in Prov 3:18. The marginal reading (Qere) assumes a vav (ו) consecutive and Pual perfect. Some, with the support of the LXX, change the verb to a Piel (active) form with an objective pronominal suffix, “and may he bless him,” or “and he will bless him” (cf. NIV84).
in the land.
Do not turn him over
tn The negative particle אַל (ʾal) before the prefixed verbal form indicates the verb is a jussive and the statement a prayer. Those who want to take v. 2 as a statement of confidence suggest emending the negative particle to לֹא (loʾ), which is used with the imperfect. See the earlier note on the verbal forms in line one of this verse. According to GKC 322 §109.e, this is a case where the jussive is used rhetorically to “express that something cannot or should not happen.” In this case one might translate, “you will not turn him over to his enemies,” and take the preceding verbal forms as indicative in mood. However, none of the examples offered in GKC for this use of the jussive are compelling.
to his enemies.
tn Heb “do not give him over to the desire of his enemies” (see Ps 27:12).

3 The Lord supports
tn The prefixed verbal form could be taken as jussive, continuing the prayer of v. 2, but the parallel line in v. 3b employs the perfect, suggesting that the psalmist is again speaking in the indicative mood (see v. 1b). The imperfect can be understood as future or as generalizing (see v. 1).
him on his sickbed;
you have healed him from his illness.
tn Heb “all his bed you have changed in his illness.” The perfect verb may indicate a testimony of what God has done in the past as part of the statement of confidence.

4 As for me, I said:
sn In vv. 4-10 the psalmist recites the prayer of petition and lament he offered to the Lord.

“O Lord, have mercy on me!
Heal me, for I have sinned against you.

5 My enemies ask this cruel question about me,
tn Heb “my enemies speak evil concerning me.”

When will he finally die and be forgotten?’
tn Heb “and his name perish.”

6 When someone comes to visit,
tn Heb “to see.”
he pretends to be friendly;
tn Heb “he speaks deceitfully.”

he thinks of ways to defame me,
tn Heb “his heart gathers sin to itself.”

and when he leaves he slanders me.
tn Heb “he goes outside and speaks.”

7 All who hate me whisper insults about me to one another;
tn Heb “together against me they whisper, all those who hate me.” The Hitpael of לָחַשׁ (lakhash) refers here to whispering to one another (see 2 Sam 12:19).

they plan ways to harm me.

8 They say,
tn The words “they say” are not in the Hebrew text, but are supplied in the translation to make it clear that v. 8 contains a quotation of what the psalmist’s enemies say about him (see v. 7a).

‘An awful disease
tn Heb “thing of worthlessness.” In Ps 101:3 the phrase refers to evil deeds in general, but here it appears to refer more specifically to the illness that plagues the psalmist.
overwhelms him,
tn Heb “is poured out on him.” The passive participle of יָצַק (yatsaq) is used.

and now that he is bedridden he will never recover.’
tn Heb “and he who lies down will not again arise.”

9 Even my close friend
tn Heb “man of my peace.” The phrase here refers to one’s trusted friend (see Jer 38:22; Obad 7).
whom I trusted,
he who shared meals with me, has turned against me.
tn Heb “has made a heel great against me.” The precise meaning of this phrase, which appears only here, is uncertain.
sn The language of this verse is applied to Judas Iscariot in John 13:18.

10 As for you, O Lord, have mercy on me and raise me up,
so I can pay them back!”
tn The cohortative with prefixed vav (ו) here indicates purpose or result (“Then I will repay them”) after the preceding imperatives.

11 By this
sn By this. Having recalled his former lament and petition, the psalmist returns to the confident mood of vv. 1-3. The basis for his confidence may be a divine oracle of deliverance, assuring him that God would intervene and vindicate him. The demonstrative pronoun “this” may refer to such an oracle, which is assumed here, though its contents are not included. See P. C. Craigie, Psalms 1-50 (WBC), 319, 321.
I know that you are pleased with me,
for my enemy does
tn Or “will.” One may translate the imperfect verbal form as descriptive (present, cf. NIV) or as anticipatory (future, cf. NEB).
not triumph
tn Heb “shout.”
over me.

12 As for me, you uphold
tn Or “have upheld.” The perfect verbal form can be taken as generalizing/descriptive (present) or as a present perfect.
me because of my integrity;
sn Because of my integrity. See Pss 7:8; 25:21; 26:1, 11.

you allow
tn The prefixed verbal form with vav (ו) consecutive has the same aspectual function as the preceding perfect. It is either generalizing/descriptive (present) or has a present perfect nuance (“you have allowed”).
me permanent access to your presence.
tn Heb “and you cause me to stand before you permanently.”

13 The Lord God of Israel deserves praise
tn Heb “[be] blessed.” See Pss 18:46; 28:6; 31:21.

in the future and forevermore.
tn Heb “from everlasting to everlasting.” See 1 Chr 16:36; Neh 9:5; Pss 90:2; 106:48.

We agree! We agree!
tn Heb “surely and surely” (אָמֵן וְאָמֵן [ʾamen veʾamen], i.e., “amen and amen”). This is probably a congregational response to the immediately preceding statement about the propriety of praising God.
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