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Psalms 13

BSB·6 verses ·Old Testament
✦ Tap any verse to open Scripture Explorer — original Hebrew/Greek, commentary, notes & highlights
1How longעַד־‘aḏ- — until, till, up to (temporal or spatial limit)H5704 — Full Word Study →, O LORDיְ֭הוָהYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →? Will You forgetתִּשְׁכָּחֵ֣נִיtiš·kā·ḥê·nî — to forget, neglect, lose memory ofH7911 — Full Word Study → meאָ֣נָה’ā·nāh — Where? Whither? (interrogative/indefinite adverb of place)H575 — Full Word Study → foreverנֶ֑צַחne·ṣaḥ — perpetual strength; eternal enduranceH5331 — Full Word Study →? How longעַד־‘aḏ- — until, till, up to (temporal or spatial limit)H5704 — Full Word Study → will You hideתַּסְתִּ֖ירtas·tîr — To hide, conceal, or keep secretH5641 — Full Word Study → Your faceפָּנֶ֣יךָpā·ne·ḵā — face; presence; beforeH6440 — Full Word Study → from meמִמֶּֽנִּי׃mim·men·nî — from, out of, by means ofH4480 — Full Word Study →? 2How longעַד־‘aḏ- — until, till, up to (temporal or spatial limit)H5704 — Full Word Study → must I wrestleאָשִׁ֪ית’ā·šîṯ — to set, place, or appointH7896 — Full Word Study → in my soulבְּנַפְשִׁ֗יbə·nap̄·šî — soul, life, person, selfH5315 — Full Word Study →, with sorrowיָג֣וֹןyā·ḡō·wn — Deep sorrow, grief, profound sadnessH3015 — Full Word Study → in my heartבִּלְבָבִ֣יbil·ḇā·ḇî — The inner self; mind, will, understandingH3824 — Full Word Study → each dayיוֹמָ֑םyō·w·mām — During the day; daytime; by dayH3119 — Full Word Study →? How longעַד־‘aḏ- — until, till, up to (temporal or spatial limit)H5704 — Full Word Study → will my enemyאֹיְבִ֣י’ō·yə·ḇî — Enemy; adversary; one who opposesH341 — Full Word Study → dominateיָר֖וּםyā·rūm — To raise, lift up, exalt; to be highH7311 — Full Word Study → meעָלָֽי׃‘ā·lāy — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study →? 3Consider meהַבִּ֣יטָֽהhab·bî·ṭāh — To look upon, regard, or behold with attentionH5027 — Full Word Study → and respond, O LORDיְהוָ֣הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → my Godאֱלֹהָ֑י’ĕ·lō·hāy — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study →. Give lightהָאִ֥ירָהhā·’î·rāh — to shine, give light, become brightH215 — Full Word Study → to my eyesעֵ֝ינַ֗י‘ê·nay — Eye; sight; appearance; fountainH5869 — Full Word Study →, lestפֶּן־pen- — lest, that not, for fear thatH6435 — Full Word Study → I sleepאִישַׁ֥ן’î·šan — to sleep; to be asleep; dormant or inactiveH3462 — Full Word Study → in deathהַמָּֽוֶת׃ham·mā·weṯ — death, the state of being deadH4194 — Full Word Study →, 4lestפֶּן־pen- — lest, that not, for fear thatH6435 — Full Word Study → my enemyאֹיְבִ֣י’ō·yə·ḇî — Enemy; adversary; one who opposesH341 — Full Word Study → sayיֹאמַ֣רyō·mar — to say, speak, declareH559 — Full Word Study →, “I have overcome himיְכָלְתִּ֑יוyə·ḵā·lə·tîw — to be able, have power, endureH3201 — Full Word Study →,” and my foesצָרַ֥יṣā·ray — Narrow, tight, or distress; an adversary or enemyH6862 — Full Word Study → rejoiceיָ֝גִ֗ילוּyā·ḡî·lū — to rejoice, be glad, exultH1523 — Full Word Study → whenכִּ֣יkî — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → I fallאֶמּֽוֹט׃’em·mō·wṭ — to shake, move, slip, or fall awayH4131 — Full Word Study →. 5But Iוַאֲנִ֤י׀wa·’ă·nî — I, me, myself (first person singular pronoun)H589 — Full Word Study → have trustedבָטַחְתִּי֮ḇā·ṭaḥ·tî — to trust, rely on, have confidenceH982 — Full Word Study → in Your loving devotionבְּחַסְדְּךָ֣bə·ḥas·də·ḵā — Covenant loyalty and steadfast kindnessH2617 — Full Word Study →; my heartלִבִּ֗יlib·bî — Heart; the center of emotion, will, and intellectH3820 — Full Word Study → will rejoiceיָ֤גֵ֥לyā·ḡêl — to rejoice, be glad, exultH1523 — Full Word Study → in Your salvationבִּֽישׁוּעָ֫תֶ֥ךָbî·šū·‘ā·ṯe·ḵā — Deliverance, salvation, rescue from dangerH3444 — Full Word Study →. 6I will singאָשִׁ֥ירָה’ā·šî·rāh — to sing, make musicH7891 — Full Word Study → to the LORDלַיהוָ֑הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →, forכִּ֖יkî — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → He has been goodגָמַ֣לḡā·mal — To deal bountifully; to ripen or mature; to repay or rewardH1580 — Full Word Study → to meעָלָֽי׃‘ā·lāy — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study →.
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Chapter Commentary — Psalms 13
Chapter Overview

Chapter Overview

Psalm 13 is a profound prayer of lament that moves from deep despair to confident trust in God's character and faithfulness. The psalmist—traditionally understood to be David—cries out in anguish, feeling abandoned and overwhelmed by enemies, yet concludes with a beautiful declaration of faith and praise. This short but powerful psalm teaches us that honest wrestling with our emotions before God is not only permitted but can lead us to renewed confidence in His mercy and deliverance.

Verses 1–2: The Cry of Abandonment

David opens with four urgent, repeated questions: "How long?" This refrain captures the anguish of feeling forgotten by God. The psalmist describes God as hiding His face—a biblical metaphor for the withdrawal of His presence and comfort. Verse 2 moves from this spiritual distress to its emotional and practical consequences: daily sorrow, turmoil of soul, and the triumph of enemies who mock him.

What makes this passage biblically faithful is that David does not deny his pain or pretend all is well. He brings his raw, unfiltered emotions directly to God. This teaches us that faith is not the absence of doubt or despair, but rather the willingness to express those struggles to God rather than away from Him. The "how long" questions echo through Scripture, reminding us that seasons of darkness and perceived silence from heaven are not alien to God's people.

Verse 3: The Turning Point—A Plea for Mercy

In verse 3, the psalmist shifts from complaint to petition. He appeals to God—"Consider and hear me, O LORD my God"—and asks God to "lighten mine eyes," a poetic plea for restoration of strength and hope. The phrase "lest I sleep the sleep of death" indicates the severity of his condition; he fears spiritual and perhaps physical death if God does not intervene.

This verse demonstrates that while honest lament is vital, it must ultimately lead us to seek God's face and request His help. David does not wallow in despair; he redirects his emotional energy toward pleading with the God who alone can deliver him. This is the movement from self-pity to supplication.

Verse 4: The Stakes of God's Silence

David explains why God's apparent silence matters so deeply: his enemies will misinterpret it as evidence that God has abandoned him or proven powerless. If David's adversaries see him overcome, they will boast that they have defeated both David and his God. This reveals that personal crisis has cosmic implications—the honor of God's name is at stake in how He responds to His servant's distress.

Verses 5–6: The Resolution Through Faith

The final verses contain a remarkable reversal. Without describing any change in circumstance, David declares: "But I have trusted in thy mercy." Notice the shift from "how long" to "but"—this conjunction marks the turning from despair to faith. The psalmist chooses to rest upon God's mercy (hesed in Hebrew—covenant love) and anticipates rejoicing in God's salvation, even before deliverance visibly arrives.

Verse 6 culminates in a vow of praise. David commits to sing to the LORD and acknowledge His generous, bountifully faithful dealings. This is faith in action—praising God not only for what He has done, but for who He eternally is.

Application for Today

Psalm 13 invites us to bring our deepest struggles and honest questions before God without shame. If you feel distant from God, do not suppress that feeling in false piety; instead, express it truthfully in prayer. Then, like David, make the choice to trust in God's covenant mercy before you see all circumstances resolved. Our faith is tested not in easy times, but when we praise God in the darkness, resting on His character rather than our circumstances.

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