Psalms 41:8-9

41:8 They say,

‘An awful disease overwhelms him,

and now that he is bed-ridden he will never recover.’

41:9 Even my close friend whom I trusted,

he who shared meals with me, has turned against me.


tn The words “they say” are not in the Hebrew text, but are supplied in the translation to make it clear that v. 8 contains a quotation of what the psalmist’s enemies say about him (see v. 7a).

tn Heb “thing of worthlessness.” In Ps 101:3 the phrase refers to evil deeds in general, but here it appears to refer more specifically to the illness that plagues the psalmist.

tn Heb “is poured out on him.” The passive participle of יָצַק (yatsaq) is used.

tn Heb “and he who lies down will not again arise.”

tn Heb “man of my peace.” The phrase here refers to one’s trusted friend (see Jer 38:22; Obad 7).

tn Heb “has made a heel great against me.” The precise meaning of this phrase, which appears only here, is uncertain.

sn The language of this verse is applied to Judas Iscariot in John 13:18.