13 1 David as it were overcome with sundry and new afflictions, fleeth to God as his only refuge, 3 and so at the length being encouraged through God’s promises, he conceiveth most sure confidence against the extreme horrors of death.

To him that excelleth. A Psalm of David.

How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord, [a]forever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?

How long shall I take [b]counsel within myself having weariness daily in mine heart? how long shall mine enemy be exalted above me?

Behold, and hear me, O Lord my God: lighten mine eyes, that I sleep not in death.

Lest mine enemy say, I have [c]prevailed against him: and they that afflict me, rejoice, when I slide.

But I trust in thy [d]mercy: mine heart shall rejoice in thy salvation; I will sing to the Lord, because he hath [e]dealt lovingly with me.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 13:1 He declareth that his afflictions lasted a long time, and that his faith fainted not.
  2. Psalm 13:2 Changing my purposes as the sick man doth his place.
  3. Psalm 13:4 Which might turn to God’s dishonor: if he did not defend his.
  4. Psalm 13:5 The mercy of God is the cause of our salvation.
  5. Psalm 13:5 Both by the benefits past, and by others to come.

Trust in the Salvation of the Lord

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

13 How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever?
(A)How long will You hide Your face from me?
How long shall I take counsel in my soul,
Having sorrow in my heart daily?
How long will my enemy be exalted over me?

Consider and hear me, O Lord my God;
(B)Enlighten my eyes,
(C)Lest I sleep the sleep of death;
Lest my enemy say,
“I have prevailed against him”;
Lest those who trouble me rejoice when I am moved.

But I have trusted in Your mercy;
My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.
I will sing to the Lord,
Because He has dealt bountifully with me.

Trust in the Salvation of Yahweh

For the music director. A psalm of David.[a]

13 How long, O Yahweh? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I take counsel[b] in my soul,
and sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long will my enemy be exalted over me?
Consider[c] and answer me, O Yahweh my God.
Give light to my eyes
lest I sleep the sleep of death,
and lest my enemy should say, “I have overcome him,”
lest my enemies rejoice because I am shaken.
But as for me, I have trusted in your steadfast love.[d]
My heart will rejoice in your deliverance.
[e] I will sing to Yahweh
because he has dealt bountifully with me.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 13:1 The Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as the first verse of the psalm; the English verse number is reduced by one
  2. Psalm 13:2 Hebrew pl.; with a slight modification of the Hebrew this reads “set pains”
  3. Psalm 13:3 Literally “Look”
  4. Psalm 13:5 Or, “loyal love”
  5. Psalm 13:6 In the Hebrew Bible, the previous verse continues