Psalms 41 (KJV)

Chapter Text

41:1 Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.

41:2 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.

41:3 The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.

41:4 I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee.

41:5 Mine enemies speak evil of me, When shall he die, and his name perish?

41:6 And if he come to see me, he speaketh vanity: his heart gathereth iniquity to itself; when he goeth abroad, he telleth it.

41:7 All that hate me whisper together against me: against me do they devise my hurt.

41:8 An evil disease, say they, cleaveth fast unto him: and now that he lieth he shall rise up no more.

41:9 Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.

41:10 But thou, O LORD, be merciful unto me, and raise me up, that I may requite them.

41:11 By this I know that thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me.

41:12 And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever.

41:13 Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "blessed", "considereth", "poor", "lord", "deliver", "time", and "trouble". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "blessed" and "considereth", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The local KJV text gives this verse as the immediate unit, so "blessed" and "considereth" carries the first interpretive weight. In Psalms context, the local focus is worship, trust, the LORD's kingship, and covenant mercy.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "blessed" and "considereth" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.