Psalm 13:1-3

How Long, O Lord?

1 ¹How long, O Lord? Will you ²forget me forever? How long will you ³hide your face from me?

2 How long must I take ⁴counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

3 ⁵Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; ⁶light up my eyes, lest ⁷I sleep the sleep of death,

Psalm 13:1-3 Meaning and Commentary

To the chief Musician, a Psalm of David. According to Theodoret this psalm was written by David, not when he fled from Saul, but from Absalom; and gives this reason for it, what happened to him from Saul was before his sin, and therefore he could speak with great boldness; but what befell him from Absalom was after it, and therefore mourning and groans were mixed with his words.

Cross References

• 1. 13:1 Ps. 79:5; 89:46; [Rev. 6:10]
• 2. 13:1 Ps. 10:12; 44:24; 74:19, 23; Lam. 5:20
• 3. 13:1 See Job 13:24
• 4. 13:2 [Ps. 77:6]
• 5. 13:3 Ps. 5:1; 119:153
• 6. 13:3 Ps. 19:8; Ezra 9:8; Prov. 29:13; Eph. 1:18; [1 Sam. 14:27]
• 7. 13:3 [Jer. 51:39]