1Happy are those who consider the poor;a

the Lord delivers them in the day of trouble.*

2The Lord protects them and keeps them alive;

they are called happy in the land.

You do not give them up to the will of their enemies.*

3The Lord sustains them on their sickbed;

in their illness you heal all their infirmities.b^,*

4As for me, I said, “O Lord, be gracious to me;

heal me, for I have sinned against you.”*

5My enemies wonder in malice

when I will die and my name perish.*

6And when they come to see me, they utter empty words

while their hearts gather mischief;

when they go out, they tell it abroad.*

7All who hate me whisper together about me;

they imagine the worst for me.*

8They think that a deadly thing has fastened on me,

that I will not rise again from where I lie.*

9Even my close friend in whom I trusted,

who ate of my bread, has lifted the heel against me.*

10But you, O Lord, be gracious to me,

and raise me up, that I may repay them.*

11By this I know that you are pleased with me:

because my enemy has not triumphed over me.*

12But you have upheld me because of my integrity

and set me in your presence forever.*

13Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,

from everlasting to everlasting.

Amen and Amen.*