Psalm 41:1
New International Version
For the director of music. A psalm of David. Blessed are those who have regard for the weak; the LORD delivers them in times of trouble.

New Living Translation
Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the poor! The LORD rescues them when they are in trouble.

English Standard Version
Blessed is the one who considers the poor! In the day of trouble the LORD delivers him;

Berean Standard Bible
For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. Blessed is the one who cares for the poor; the LORD will deliver him in the day of trouble.

King James Bible
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.

New King James Version
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. Blessed is he who considers the poor; The LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.

New American Standard Bible
For the music director. A Psalm of David. Blessed is one who considers the helpless; The LORD will save him on a day of trouble.

NASB 1995
For the choir director. A Psalm of David. How blessed is he who considers the helpless; The LORD will deliver him in a day of trouble.

NASB 1977
How blessed is he who considers the helpless; The LORD will deliver him in a day of trouble.

Legacy Standard Bible
For the choir director. Of David. How blessed is he who considers the poor; Yahweh will provide him escape in a day of calamity.

Amplified Bible
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. Blessed [by God’s grace and compassion] is he who considers the helpless; The LORD will save him in the day of trouble.

Christian Standard Bible
For the choir director. A psalm of David. Happy is one who is considerate of the poor; the LORD will save him in a day of adversity.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For the choir director. A Davidic psalm. Happy is one who cares for the poor; the LORD will save him in a day of adversity.

American Standard Version
For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. Blessed is he that considereth the poor: Jehovah will deliver him in the day of evil.

Contemporary English Version
You, LORD God, bless everyone who cares for the poor, and you rescue those people in times of trouble.

English Revised Version
For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in the day of evil.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
[For the choir director; a psalm by David.] Blessed is the one who has concern for helpless people. The LORD will rescue him in times of trouble.

Good News Translation
Happy are those who are concerned for the poor; the LORD will help them when they are in trouble.

International Standard Version
Blessed is the one who is considerate of the destitute; the LORD will deliver him when the times are evil.

Majority Standard Bible
For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. Blessed is the one who cares for the poor; the LORD will deliver him in the day of trouble.

NET Bible
For the music director; a psalm of David. How blessed is the one who treats the poor properly! When trouble comes, the LORD delivers him.

New Heart English Bible
[For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David.] Blessed is he who considers the poor and needy. The LORD will deliver him in the day of evil.

Webster's Bible Translation
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in the time of trouble.

World English Bible
For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. Blessed is he who considers the poor. Yahweh will deliver him in the day of evil.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
TO THE OVERSEER. A PSALM OF DAVID. O the blessedness of him "" Who is acting wisely to the poor, "" In a day of evil YHWH delivers him.

Young's Literal Translation
To the Overseer. -- A Psalm of David. O the happiness of him Who is acting wisely unto the poor, In a day of evil doth Jehovah deliver him.

Smith's Literal Translation
To the overseer: chanting of David. Happy he attending to the weak one: in the day of evil Jehovah will deliver him.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Unto the end, a psalm for David himself. Blessed is he that understandeth concerning the needy and the poor : the Lord will deliver him in the evil day.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Unto the end. A Psalm of David himself. Blessed is he who shows understanding toward the needy and the poor. The Lord will deliver him in the evil day.

New American Bible
For the leader. A psalm of David. [2] Blessed the one concerned for the poor; on a day of misfortune, the LORD delivers him.

New Revised Standard Version
Happy are those who consider the poor; the LORD delivers them in the day of trouble.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
BLESSED is he who looks after the poor; the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Blessed is he who regards the poor, for in the day of evil, LORD JEHOVAH will set him free.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
For the Leader. A Psalm of David. Happy is he that considereth the poor; The LORD will deliver him in the day of evil.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For the end, a Psalm of David. Blessed is the man who thinks, on the poor and needy: the Lord shall deliver him in an evil day.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Blessed is He who Cares for the Poor
1For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. Blessed is the one who cares for the poor; the LORD will deliver him in the day of trouble. 2The LORD will protect and preserve him; He will bless him in the land and refuse to surrender him to the will of his foes.…

Cross References
Proverbs 19:17
Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD, and He will repay the lender.

Matthew 5:7
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Luke 6:38
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”

James 1:27
Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Isaiah 58:7-10
Isn’t it to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your home, to clothe the naked when you see him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? / Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will come quickly. Your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. / Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry out, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you remove the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger and malicious talk, ...

Proverbs 14:21
He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who shows kindness to the poor.

Matthew 25:34-40
Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. / For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in, / I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you visited Me.’ ...

Galatians 6:9-10
Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. / Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to the family of faith.

1 John 3:17-18
If anyone with earthly possessions sees his brother in need, but withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God abide in him? / Little children, let us love not in word and speech, but in action and truth.

Proverbs 22:9
A generous man will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.

2 Corinthians 9:6-9
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. / Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not out of regret or compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver. / And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. ...

Luke 14:13-14
But when you host a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind, / and you will be blessed. Since they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

Acts 20:35
In everything, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus Himself: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Deuteronomy 15:7-11
If there is a poor man among your brothers within any of the gates in the land that the LORD your God is giving you, then you are not to harden your heart or shut your hand from your poor brother. / Instead, you are to open your hand to him and freely loan him whatever he needs. / Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought in your heart: “The seventh year, the year of release, is near,” so that you look upon your poor brother begrudgingly and give him nothing. He will cry out to the LORD against you, and you will be guilty of sin. ...

Job 29:12-16
because I rescued the poor who cried out and the fatherless who had no helper. / The dying man blessed me, and I made the widow’s heart sing for joy. / I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; justice was my robe and my turban. ...


Treasury of Scripture

Blessed is he that considers the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.

(Title.

Blessed

Psalm 112:9
He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.

Deuteronomy 15:7-11
If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother: …

Job 29:12-16
Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him…

the poor, or the week, or the sick

Matthew 25:34-39
Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: …

Acts 20:35
I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

1 Thessalonians 5:14
Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.

Lord

Psalm 34:19
Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

Psalm 37:26,39,40
He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed…

Hebrews 6:10
For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

time of trouble [heb.

Psalm 37:19
They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

Proverbs 16:14
The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it.

Ecclesiastes 12:1
Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;

Jump to Previous
Acting Blessed Chief Choirmaster Considereth Considers David Deliver Delivers Director Evil Gives Happiness Happy Helpless Leader Music Musician Music-Maker Poor Psalm Regard Saviour Time Times Trouble Understandeth Weak
Jump to Next
Acting Blessed Chief Choirmaster Considereth Considers David Deliver Delivers Director Evil Gives Happiness Happy Helpless Leader Music Musician Music-Maker Poor Psalm Regard Saviour Time Times Trouble Understandeth Weak
Psalm 41
1. The recompense of the charitable
4. David complains of his enemies' treachery
10. He flees to God for helpfulness














Blessed
The Hebrew word for "blessed" is "אַשְׁרֵי" (ashrei), which conveys a sense of happiness, fortune, and divine favor. In the biblical context, being "blessed" is not merely about material wealth or comfort but about experiencing the fullness of life that comes from living in alignment with God's will. This word sets the tone for the verse, indicating that the following actions are not just moral duties but pathways to divine joy and approval.

is the one who cares
The phrase "is the one who cares" translates from the Hebrew "מַשְׂכִּיל" (maskil), which implies acting with insight, wisdom, and understanding. This suggests that caring for the poor is not just an emotional response but a deliberate, thoughtful action. It reflects a heart aligned with God's wisdom, recognizing the inherent dignity and worth of every individual, especially those in need.

for the poor
The Hebrew word "דָּל" (dal) refers to those who are weak, needy, or impoverished. In ancient Israel, the poor were often marginalized and vulnerable, lacking the social and economic support systems we might take for granted today. The biblical mandate to care for the poor is a recurring theme, emphasizing God's heart for justice and compassion. It calls believers to reflect God's character by actively supporting and uplifting those who are disadvantaged.

the LORD
The term "LORD" is translated from "יְהוָה" (YHWH), the sacred, covenantal name of God. This name signifies God's eternal, self-existent nature and His faithfulness to His promises. It reminds the reader that the actions described in this verse are not just ethical imperatives but are deeply rooted in the character and covenant of God Himself.

will deliver him
The Hebrew word "יְמַלְּטֵהוּ" (yemaletehu) means to rescue, save, or deliver. This promise of deliverance is a divine assurance that those who align themselves with God's heart for the poor will experience His protection and salvation. It reflects the biblical principle that God is a refuge and strength for those who act justly and love mercy.

in the day of trouble
The phrase "in the day of trouble" translates from "בְּיוֹם רָעָה" (beyom ra'ah), indicating times of distress, adversity, or calamity. This acknowledges the reality of life's challenges and the inevitability of difficult times. However, it also reassures believers that God's deliverance is not just a future hope but a present reality, providing strength and support in the midst of trials.

(1) Blessed is he.--This general statement of the great law of sympathy and benevolence--fine and noble however we take it--may be explained in different ways, according as we take the Hebrew word dal as poor, with the LXX. and Vulg. (comp. Exodus 30:15), or with the margin, as sick, weak in body (comp. Genesis 41:19), or give it an ethical sense, sick at heart. (Comp. 2Samuel 13:4.) The context favours one of the two latter, and the choice between them depends on whether we take the author's sickness to be real or figurative. Psalm 41:3 strongly favours the view that the sickness is physical.

Considereth.--The Hebrew word implies wise as well as kindly consideration. So LXX. and Vulg., "he that understands."

Verse 1. - Blessed is he that considereth the poor. David had concluded the preceding psalm by calling himself "poor and needy." He commences the present one by pronouncing a blessing on all those who "consider," or tenderly regard, and, so far as they can, assist the peer and afflicted. It is not so much actual poverty, as humiliation and weakness, of which he is speaking. The Lord will deliver him in time of trouble; literally, in the day of evil. As he has pity on his fellow-men, so God will have pity upon him (comp. Matthew 6:14, 15; Matthew 10:42; Matthew 18:33; Proverbs 19:17; Ecclesiastes 11:1, etc.).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
For the choirmaster.
לַמְנַצֵּ֗חַ (lam·naṣ·ṣê·aḥ)
Preposition-l, Article | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 5329: To glitter from afar, to be eminent, to be permanent

A Psalm
מִזְמ֥וֹר (miz·mō·wr)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4210: Instrumental music, a poem set to notes

of David.
לְדָוִֽד׃ (lə·ḏā·wiḏ)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

Blessed
אַ֭שְׁרֵי (’aš·rê)
Interjection
Strong's 835: Happiness, interjection, how happy!

[is] he who cares
מַשְׂכִּ֣יל (maś·kîl)
Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 7919: To be, circumspect, intelligent

for
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the poor;
דָּ֑ל (dāl)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 1800: Dangling, weak, thin

the LORD
יְהוָֽה׃ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

will deliver him
יְֽמַלְּטֵ֥הוּ (yə·mal·lə·ṭê·hū)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 4422: To be smooth, to escape, to release, rescue, to bring forth young, emit sparks

in the day
בְּי֥וֹם (bə·yō·wm)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3117: A day

of trouble.
רָ֝עָ֗ה (rā·‘āh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil


Links
Psalm 41:1 NIV
Psalm 41:1 NLT
Psalm 41:1 ESV
Psalm 41:1 NASB
Psalm 41:1 KJV

Psalm 41:1 BibleApps.com
Psalm 41:1 Biblia Paralela
Psalm 41:1 Chinese Bible
Psalm 41:1 French Bible
Psalm 41:1 Catholic Bible

OT Poetry: Psalm 41:1 For the Chief Musician (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 40:17
Top of Page
Top of Page