Psalm XLI

Blest is he who with mercy doth
The [poor and] needy's case consider,
For in the troublous evil day
The Lord will him [keep and] deliver.

The Lord will him preserve alive,
And [he will] bless him in the land;
And thou wilt not deliver him
Into his enemies [will and] hand.

Upon his bed of languishing,
He shall [by thee] be strengthened;
And in his painful sickness thou
[For ease] wilt make and turn his bed.

I pray'd and said to thee my God,
[O] be [thou] merciful to me,
And heal my soul of guilt and woe,
That hath [by sin] offended thee.

Mine enemies speak and wish me ill,
And say, [How long] when will he dye?
That so his name may be forgot,
Or [buried] under slanders lye.

Or if he come to visit me,
He speaketh [lies and] vanity,
His heart, to tell it all abroad,
Gathers [it self] iniquity.

Against me they whisper and plot,
[Then all] that are mine enemies;
Together they some hurt or ill
Against me [daily] do devise.

There cleaves to him, say they with joy,
Some ill disease or [mortal] sore;
And now that he doth keep his bed,
[Off it] he shall rise up no more.

Yea, he with whom I liv'd in peace,
[Who was] my friend and confident;
Who of my bread did eat, even he
His [scornful] heel against me bent.

But thou, O Lord, be merciful
[To me] and raise me up agen,
That I in justice may requite
The doings of these [wicked[ men.

And by this I may know that I
Am [own'd and] favoured by thee,
Because mine enemies do not still
Thus [boast and] triumph over me.

Thou me in mine integrity
Upholdest by thy [saving] grace,
And wilt me set for evermore
Before thy [pleased] glorious face.

The Lord, the God of Israel,
For ever [prais'd and] blessed be;
From age to age for evermore,
[All Saints] Amen, Amen, say ye.