The psalmist describes the blessed state of one who shows kindness to the needy and poor, and expresses trust that God will deliver and preserve him from his adversaries. The psalmist then turns to his own situation, asking for God's mercy and healing due to his sin, and describes the treachery of his enemies, including a close friend who has turned against him. Despite this, the psalmist trusts in God's support and vindication, and concludes by blessing God for his eternal faithfulness.
1 Unto the end. A Psalm of David himself 2 Blessed is he who shows understanding toward the needy and the poor. The Lord will deliver him in the evil day 3 May the Lord preserve him and give him life, and make him blessed upon the earth. And may he not hand him over to the will of his adversaries 4 May the Lord bring him help on his bed of sorrow. In his infirmity, you have changed his entire covering 5 I said, "O Lord, be merciful to me. Heal my soul, because I have sinned against you. 6 My enemies have spoken evils against me. When will he die and his name perish 7 And when he came in to see me, he was speaking emptiness. His heart gathered iniquity to itself. He went outside, and he was speaking in the same way 8 All my enemies were whispering against me. They were thinking up evils against me 9 They established an unjust word against me. Will he that sleeps no longer rise again 10 For even the man of my peace, in whom I hoped, who ate my bread, has greatly supplanted me 11 But you, O Lord, have mercy on me, and raise me up again. And I will requite them 12 By this, I knew that you preferred me: because my adversary will not rejoice over me 13 But you have sustained me, because of my innocence, and you have confirmed me in your sight in eternity 14 Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, for all generations and even forever. Amen. Amen