Psalms 13: From Anguish to Trust

Four repeated 'how longs' resolved into a song of joy.

Psalms 13: How Long, O LORD?

One of the shortest laments in the Psalter, this chapter follows Psalms 12 and opens with David repeating 'how long' four times as he wrestles with sorrow, a hidden God, and a triumphant enemy. He asks to be enlightened before he sleeps the sleep of death.


(大衛的 詩,交與伶長。)耶和華啊,你忘記我 要到 幾時呢?要到永遠嗎?你掩 面 不顧我 要到 幾時呢?

我心裡 籌 算,終日 愁苦,要到 幾時呢?我的仇敵 升高 壓制我,要到 幾時呢?

耶和華─我的 神啊,求你看顧我,應允我!使我眼目 光明,免得 我沉睡 至死;

免得 我的仇敵 說:我勝了他;免得我的敵人 在我搖動 的時候 喜樂。

但我 倚靠 你的慈愛;我的心 因你的救恩 快樂。

我要向耶和華 歌唱,因 他用厚恩 待我。

In its final two verses the tone turns completely, as David declares he has trusted in God's mercy and will sing to the LORD, a shift toward praise also seen in <a href="/bible/chiun/isaiah/chapter-12/2">Isaiah 12:2</a>, leading into <a href="/bible/chiun/psalms/chapter-14">Psalms 14</a>.