1  Blessed are those who consider the poor and needy; ♦︎
   the Lord will deliver them in the time of trouble.
2  The Lord preserves them and restores their life,
      that they may be happy in the land; ♦︎
   he will not hand them over to the will of their enemies.
3  The Lord sustains them on their sickbed; ♦︎
   their sickness, Lord, you will remove.
4  And so I said, ‘Lord, be merciful to me; ♦︎
   heal me, for I have sinned against you.’
5  My enemies speak evil about me, ♦︎
   asking when I shall die and my name perish.
6  If they come to see me, they utter empty words; ♦︎
   their heart gathers mischief;
      when they go out, they tell it abroad.
7  All my enemies whisper together against me, ♦︎
   against me they devise evil,
8  Saying that a deadly thing has laid hold on me, ♦︎
   and that I will not rise again from where I lie.
9  Even my bosom friend, whom I trusted,
      who ate of my bread, ♦︎
   has lifted up his heel against me.
10  But you, O Lord, be merciful to me ♦︎
   and raise me up, that I may reward them.
11  By this I know that you favour me, ♦︎
   that my enemy does not triumph over me.
12  Because of my integrity you uphold me ♦︎
   and will set me before your face for ever.
13  Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, ♦︎
   from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and Amen.