Psalm 41:1-3 A Modern Expanded Translation for the Rest of us “Dummies”

Original: (1) "Blessed is he who considers the poor! The Lord delivers him in the day of trouble; (2) the Lord protects him and keeps him alive; he is called blessed in the land; the Lord does not give him up to the will of his enemies. (3) The Lord sustains him on his sickbed; in his illness the Lord heals him of all his infirmities."

A Modern Expanded "Translation": (1) Blessed is the one who considers those who don't have enough money to buy the basic needs of life such as food, clothing, and shelter. Blessed are they who physically go out and help these people and do so without judging whether or not they are worthy to receive help. Blessed are they who like Nike “just do it” and don’t ask questions. Blessed are they who help the uneducated poor who are unable to help themselves. Blessed are they who consider those who are afflicted and cannot help themselves because they don’t have the right color of skin, or the correct American mid-west accent, or sex to excel and make decent money in the business world. Blessed are they who help those who are addicted to drugs or to alcohol or some other habits that are often used to self-medicate because a person can’t afford to see a doctor or may not be grounded enough to know they need professional help. Blessed is the one who considers the poor imprisoned and visits them proclaiming liberty and setting them free. Blessed is the one who considers the "wealthy-poor" CEOs and Hollywood actors who have been humbled by ADHD, Bi-polar disorder, depression, the gossip of the media, D.U.I.s, imprisonment and attempted suicide. Blessed are you who consider all the "poor" and do not judge because you certainly are not in any position to do so. You realize that you are only human and a loser* like everyone else on the earth. (2) Because you know your place, you will be blessed by God who sees all the kind things that you do in secret. In your case, the Lord’s mercy will triumph over judgment. The Lord will not judge you. You can count on him to work overtime to deliver you from your enemies. He will rescue you from people that don’t like you and even those that set traps for you. He will do this even while you sleep. You won’t have to do a thing to clear your name. The Lord will do all the work for you! He will move about to and fro and neutralize highly negative co-workers, family and friends and their gossip. He will put a stop to evil plots that are devised against you from those who seek to prove that considering the poor is too “St. Francis” or “Pollyannaish.” (3) No to the contrary - because you consider the poor, when you are in need of mercy, such as lying in bed really sick, he will work overtime to bring about your healing. Blessed are you! Because you have shown mercy, he will be merciful to you just in the nick of time, just when you need it most.

*Loser is an ultra modern translation from the English word, sinner. Sinner comes from the Greek, hamartolos, meaning especially wicked, people stained with vices and crimes, tax collectors and heathens. Loser.