Psalms 13 How Long, O Lord?
Classic verse-by-verse commentary on Psalms 13 from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown (1871). Covers: On title, see introduction. The psalmist, mourning God's absence and the triumph of his enemies, prays for relief before he is totally destroyed, and is encouraged to hope his trust will not be in vain.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (1871)
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On title, see introduction. The psalmist, mourning God's absence and the triumph of his enemies, prays for relief before he is totally destroyed, and is encouraged to hope his trust will not be in vain
1How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me? 2How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me? 3Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death; 4Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved. 5But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. 6I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me. Psalms 13:1-6 ยท KJV
- 1
- The forms of expression and figure here used are frequent (compare Ps 9:12, 18; 10:11, 12). How long... for ever โ Shall it be for ever?
- 2
- The counsels or devices of his heart afford no relief.
- 3
- lighten mine eyes โ dim with weakness, denoting approaching death (compare 1Sa 14:27-29; Ps 6:7; 38:10).
- 4
- rejoice โ literally, "shout as in triumph." I am moved โ cast down from a firm position (Ps 10:6).
- 5,6
- Trust is followed by rejoicing in the deliverance which God effects, and, instead of his enemy, he can lift the song of triumph.
Commentary text from Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (1871), a public-domain work, offered freely for personal study. Scripture quotations are from the public-domain King James Version.