This psalm of the individual is suitable as a prayer for the sick. In this context, it focuses on the petitioner’s vindication before “my enemies” and, thus, may not form a self-contained prayer for healing like Psalm 38 (see also the comments below on vv. 4, 10).

41:1–3 The opening blessing is unusual for a prayer psalm. Unlike the rest of the psalm, it is not addressed to Yahweh directly and was thus either spoken by a liturgist overseeing the sick person’s prayer or was adopted into this prayer psalm because of the promises, the LORD will . . . not surrender him to the desire of his foes but will restore him from his bed of illness. (It is interesting to note the subsequent prayer makes no mention of the speaker’s regard for the weak.)

41:4–9 The petition of verse 4, because it is cit…