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Psalms 13

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[1]David complaineth of God's delay to help him: [3]he prayeth God to support him, that his enemies may not insult over him: [5]he trusteth in the divine mercy.

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.

1. How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?

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

3. Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death;

4. Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved.

5. But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.

6. I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.

Metrical version

Psalm 13

C.M. Martyrdom

How long wilt thou forget me, LORD?
shall it for ever be?
O how long shall it be that thou
wilt hide thy face from me?

How long take counsel in my soul,
still sad in heart, shall I?
How long exalted over me
shall be mine enemy?

O LORD my God, consider well,
and answer to me make:
Mine eyes enlighten, lest the sleep
of death me overtake:

Lest that mine enemy should say,
Against him I prevailed;
And those that trouble me rejoice,
when I am moved and failed.

But I have all my confidence
thy mercy set upon;
My heart within me shall rejoice
in thy salvation.

I will unto the LORD my God
sing praises cheerfully,
Because he hath his bounty shown
to me abundantly.
Here we have the Psalmist sowing in tears, but reaping in joy. Observe, (1.) His extreme distress, occasioned by God's apparent unkindness, and by inward anguish of soul, and the insolence of enemies, ver. 1-2. (2.) His fervent supplications that God would consider his case, strengthen his faith, direct his goings, and comfort his heart, ver. 3-4. (3.) Sudden deliverance, flowing from a fixed trust in God, and inducing to a triumphant joy in him, ver 5-6.


Think, my soul, how divine withdrawments, sensibly perceived, sting a renewed heart! How changeable the saints' spiritual frames are, while they continue in this world. Weeping endures for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. And behold, how quickly the prayers of faith are answered, and its expectations fulfilled!