1To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. Blessed is the one who considers the poor![1] In the day of trouble the Lord delivers him; (Ps 37:19; Pr 14:21)2the Lord protects him and keeps him alive; he is called blessed in the land; you do not give him up to the will of his enemies. (Ps 27:12)3The Lord sustains him on his sickbed; in his illness you restore him to full health.[2]4As for me, I said, “O Lord, be gracious to me; heal me,[3] for I have sinned against you!” (2Ch 30:20; Ps 4:1; Ps 6:2; Ps 147:3)5My enemies say of me in malice, “When will he die, and his name perish?”6And when one comes to see me, he utters empty words, while his heart gathers iniquity; when he goes out, he tells it abroad. (Ps 12:2; Ps 144:8)7All who hate me whisper together about me; they imagine the worst for me.[4]8They say, “A deadly thing is poured out[5] on him; he will not rise again from where he lies.”9Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me. (2Sa 15:12; Job 19:13; Job 19:19; Ps 55:12; Ps 55:20; Jer 9:4; Jer 20:10; Mic 7:5; Joh 13:18)10But you, O Lord, be gracious to me, and raise me up, that I may repay them!11By this I know that you delight in me: my enemy will not shout in triumph over me. (2Sa 15:25)12But you have upheld me because of my integrity, and set me in your presence forever. (Job 36:7; Ps 23:6; Ps 26:1; Ps 63:8)13Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting! Amen and Amen. (Ps 72:18; Ps 89:52; Ps 106:48; Ps 150:6; Lu 1:68)