1Happy the man who has a concern for the helpless!
The LORD will save him in time of trouble.
2The LORD protects him and gives him life,
making him secure in the land;
the LORD never leaves him to the greed of his enemies.
3He nurses him on his sick-bed;
he turns his bed when he is ill.
4But I said, 'LORD, be gracious to me;
heal me, for I have sinned against thee.'
5'His case is desperate,' my enemies say;
'when will he die, and his line become extinct?'
6All who visit me speak from an empty heart,
alert to gather bad news;
then they go out to spread it abroad.
7All who hate me whisper together about me
and love to make the worst of everything:
8'An evil spell is cast upon him;
he is laid on his bed, and will rise no more.'
9Even the friend whom I trusted, who ate at my table ,
exults over my misfortune.
10O LORD, be gracious and restore me,
that I may pay them out to the full .
11Then I shall know that thou delightest in me
and that my enemy will not triumph over me.
12But I am upheld by thee because of my innocence;
thou keepest me for ever in thy sight.
13Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting.
Amen, Amen.