The big picture
Psalms 41 opens in verse 1 with “Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.”, reaches its middle movement near verse 7 with “All that hate me whisper together against me: against me do they devise my hurt.”, and closes in verse 13 with “Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.” Repeated or prominent terms include LORD, Blessed, Amen, deliver, enemies. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Psalms · King James Version · 13Psalms 41:1-7
1–7: Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in…
Psalms 41:1–7 opens with “Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.” and reaches “All that hate me whisper together against me: against me do they devise my hurt.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by LORD, blessed, deliver.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.” Naming Blessed keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Psalms 41:1-7
King James Version1Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.
2The 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.
3The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.
4I said, LORD , be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee.
5Mine enemies speak evil of me, When shall he die, and his name perish?
6And if he come to see me, he speaketh vanity: his heart gathereth iniquity to itself; when he goeth abroad, he telleth it.
7All that hate me whisper together against me: against me do they devise my hurt.
Psalms 41:8-13
8–13: An evil disease, say they, cleaveth fast unto him: and now that he lieth…
Psalms 41:8–13 opens with “An evil disease, say they, cleaveth fast unto him: and now that he lieth he shall rise up no…” and reaches “Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by Amen, everlasting, LORD.
Context that brings the passage to life
“An evil disease, say they, cleaveth fast unto him: and now that he lieth he shall rise up no more.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Psalms 41:8-13
King James Version8An evil disease, say they, cleaveth fast unto him: and now that he lieth he shall rise up no more.
9Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.
10But thou, O LORD , be merciful unto me, and raise me up, that I may requite them.
11By this I know that thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me.
12And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever.
13Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Psalms 41:1 begins with “Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.”
Where the chapter turns
Psalms 41:5 forms a natural hinge: “Mine enemies speak evil of me, When shall he die, and his name perish?”
The final note
Psalms 41:13 leaves the reader with “Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words LORD, Blessed, Amen, deliver, enemies, everlasting help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
Why is interpretation alone insufficient?
The warning calls for preparation, oversight and stored food before the shortage arrives.
What do the sons' names preserve?
Joseph's memory of suffering and his recognition of fruitfulness in the land of affliction.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
- hath
- has
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.