Focused Passage

Psalms 13:1-4

From Forsaken Lament to Trust in the LORD’s Unfailing Love

The psalm moves from repeated questions of abandonment, to urgent petitions for divine attention and life, to renewed trust in the LORD’s unfailing love and a vow to sing because the LORD has dealt bountifully with him.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

1 How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me?

2 How long must I wrestle in my soul, with sorrow in my heart each day? How long will my enemy dominate me?

3 Consider me and respond, O LORD my God. Give light to my eyes, lest I sleep in death,

4 lest my enemy say, “I have overcome him,” and my foes rejoice when I fall.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 1

Cross-references

Job 13:24 Classic cross-references Lamentations 5:20 Classic cross-references Psalms 89:46 Classic cross-references Psalms 94:3 Classic cross-references Matthew 5:4 Classic cross-references

Original words

How long עַד־ H5704 Preposition O LORD יְ֭הוָה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular Will You forget תִּשְׁכָּחֵ֣נִי H7911 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | first person common singular me אָ֣נָה H575 Adverb forever נֶ֑צַח H5331 Noun - masculine singular How long עַד־ H5704 Preposition . . . אָ֓נָה׀ H575 Adverb will You hide תַּסְתִּ֖יר H5641 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker Your face פָּנֶ֣יךָ H6440 Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singular from me מִמֶּֽנִּי׃ H4480 Preposition | first person common singular

Verse 2

Cross-references

Micah 7:8 Classic cross-references Psalms 25:2 Classic cross-references Jeremiah 8:18 Classic cross-references Jeremiah 15:18 Classic cross-references Lamentations 1:5 Classic cross-references

Original words

How long עַד־ H5704 Preposition . . . אָ֨נָה H575 Adverb must I wrestle אָשִׁ֪ית H7896 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular . . . עֵצ֡וֹת H6098 Noun - feminine singular in my soul בְּנַפְשִׁ֗י H5315 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular with sorrow יָג֣וֹן H3015 Noun - masculine singular in my heart בִּלְבָבִ֣י H3824 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular each day יוֹמָ֑ם H3119 Adverb How long עַד־ H5704 Preposition . . . אָ֓נָה׀ H575 Adverb will my enemy אֹיְבִ֣י H341 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct | first person common singular dominate יָר֖וּם H7311 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular me עָלָֽי׃ H5921 Preposition | first person common singular

Verse 3

Cross-references

Psalms 34:5 Classic cross-references Ezra 9:8 Classic cross-references Psalms 18:28 Classic cross-references Jeremiah 51:39 Classic cross-references 1 Samuel 14:29 Classic cross-references

Original words

Consider me הַבִּ֣יטָֽה H5027 Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular [and] respond עֲ֭נֵנִי H6030 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | first person common singular O LORD יְהוָ֣ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular my God אֱלֹהָ֑י H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular Give light הָאִ֥ירָה H215 Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular to my eyes עֵ֝ינַ֗י H5869 Noun - cdc | first person common singular lest פֶּן־ H6435 Conjunction I sleep אִישַׁ֥ן H3462 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular in death הַמָּֽוֶת׃ H4194 Article | Noun - masculine singular

Verse 4

Cross-references

Psalms 25:2 Classic cross-references Jeremiah 1:19 Classic cross-references Psalms 30:1 Classic cross-references Psalms 41:11 Classic cross-references Micah 7:8 Classic cross-references

Original words

lest פֶּן־ H6435 Conjunction my enemy אֹיְבִ֣י H341 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct | first person common singular say יֹאמַ֣ר H559 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular I have overcome him יְכָלְתִּ֑יו H3201 Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular | third person masculine singular and my foes צָרַ֥י H6862 Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular rejoice יָ֝גִ֗ילוּ H1523 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural when כִּ֣י H3588 Conjunction I fall אֶמּֽוֹט׃ H4131 Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - first person common singular

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