13 How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?

How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?

Consider and hear me, O Lord my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death;

Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved.

But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.

I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.

This is a song that David wrote for the music leader.

A prayer for help[a]

13 Lord, will you forget about me for ever?
When will you remember to come and help me?
My thoughts make me worry all the time.
    How long must I continue to be sad?
How long will my enemies continue to win against me?
Lord, please listen to me!
I feel that I am nearly dead.
    Please give me the strength to live!
If I die, my enemies will say,
    ‘We have won against him!’
My enemies will be very happy if I fall.
But I will trust you because of your faithful love.
Please make me safe,
    so that I can be happy and thank you.
Yes, I will sing to praise the Lord,
    because he will surely help me.

Footnotes

  1. 13:1 David says that he believes that God will keep him safe. But sometimes it is difficult to trust God. Then he becomes very sad. By the end of the psalm, David knows that God will help him.