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Wisdom & Poetry · WORLD ENGLISH BIBLE

Psalm 13

Psalm 13 is read especially through the theme of lament, within Book I (Psalms 1–41). Its language invites attentive prayer before quick application.

LamentPraiseTrust & Refuge
Psalms overview
Old Testament

Psalm 13

1For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. How long, LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?

2How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart every day? How long shall my enemy triumph over me?

3Behold, and answer me, LORD, my God. Give light to my eyes, lest I sleep in death;

4lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed against him;” lest my adversaries rejoice when I fall.

5But I trust in your loving kindness. My heart rejoices in your salvation.

6I will sing to the LORD, because he has been good to me.

READ IN CONTEXT

Understanding Psalm 13

Psalm 13 is read especially through the theme of lament, within Book I (Psalms 1–41). Its language invites attentive prayer before quick application. Read it within the complete five-book Psalms collection, then compare its prayer language with the types of prayer found across Scripture. Classification is a reading aid rather than a replacement for the Psalm's own movement and tension.

Collection

Book I (Psalms 1–41). The five-book shape of the Psalter helps readers hear individual prayers within a deliberately arranged collection.

Themes detected

Lament, Praise, Trust & Refuge. Read for these themes while remaining open to tension and secondary movements.

TEXT-DERIVED READING NOTES

What to notice in Psalm 13

Psalm 13 contains 6 verses and about 101 words in this translation. These observations come from the chapter itself; they are prompts for close reading, not claims about its only possible meaning.

The opening movement

Verse 1 begins: “For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. How long, LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?” Ask what situation, voice, image, or argument this opening establishes for everything that follows.

The closing movement

Verse 6 closes: “I will sing to the LORD, because he has been good to me.” Compare the ending with the opening and note what changed, resolved, intensified, or remained open.

Vocabulary worth tracing

Recurring or prominent content words include long, will, lest, heart, enemy, chief. Follow where each word appears and whether its meaning shifts with the speaker or setting.

COMMON QUESTIONS

About Psalm 13

Which Bible translation is shown here?+

This page reproduces the World English Bible Protestant edition (WEBP), a modern-English translation dedicated to the public domain.

How should I cite a specific verse?+

Use the book, chapter, and verse—for example, Psalms 13:1—and name the World English Bible if the wording matters. Each verse number above is a direct anchor link.

Does the chapter number define the complete literary unit?+

Not always. Chapter and verse numbers were added for navigation. Check the paragraphs, scenes, poetic stanzas, or argument before and after this chapter.

What kind of Psalm is this?+

Our reading profile emphasizes lament, with related themes of Lament, Praise, Trust & Refuge. Many Psalms blend genres or move between moods, so this label is a guide rather than a rigid classification.

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