Psalm 13

1 How long, O Lord, wilt thou forget me? for ever? how long wilt thou turn away thy face from me?

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

3 Look on me, hearken to me, O Lord my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep in death;

4 lest at any time mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him: my persecutors will exult if ever I should be moved.

5 But I have hoped in thy mercy; my heart shall exult in thy salvation.

6 I will sing to the Lord who has dealt bountifully with me, and I will sing psalms to the name of the Lord most high.

Psalm 13 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.