Psalm 13

"How long, YHWH?"

Purpose: To ask God to see the psalmist's suffering and rescue him.

Content: YHWH, give light to my eyes! Lest I sleep in death, lest my enemy says: "I'm the victor!"

Message: Suffering does not change the psalmist's covenant relationship with God, so he can still call on God with confidence.

Author: David

Overview

Translation

Click 'Expand' to the right to see our Close-but-Clear translation of Psalm 13.

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1. For the director. A psalm by David.

2. How long, YHWH? Will you ignore me forever?

How long will you hide your face from me?

3. How long will I make futile plans?

[How long] will sorrow be daily in my heart?

How long will my enemy be exalted over me?

4. Consider! Answer me, YHWH my God!

Give light to my eyes, lest I sleep in death,

5. lest my enemy say, ‘I have overpowered him!’

[lest] my adversaries rejoice because I am shaken.

6. But I have put my trust in your loyalty.

Let my heart rejoice because of your salvation!

I will sing to YHWH, because he has repaid me!

The Close-but-clear translation (CBC) exists to provide a window into the Hebrew text according to how we understand its syntax and word-to-phrase-level semantics. It is not intended to be used as a stand-alone translation or base text, but as a supplement to Layer-by-Layer materials to help users make full use of these resources.

For links to other translations of Psalm 13, click here.

Verse-by-Verse

Click the link to view all of Psalm 13 Verse-by-Verse, or click on an individual verse below.

• v. 1
• v. 2
• v. 3
• v. 4
• v. 5
• v. 6

Layer-by-Layer

Psalm Overview

• Grammar
• Semantics
• Story behind the Psalm
• Discourse
• Poetics

Exegetical Issues

• The Meaning of Ps. 13:3a
• The Meaning of Ps. 13:4b
• The Grammar and Meaning of Ps. 13:6d