Psalm 13

Contemporary English Version

(A psalm by David for the music leader.)

A Prayer for the Lord's Help

¹How much longer, Lord,
    will you forget about me?
Will it be forever?
    How long will you hide?
²How long must I be confused
    and miserable all day?
How long will my enemies
    keep beating me down?

³Please listen, Lord God,
    and answer my prayers.
Make my eyes sparkle again,
or else I will fall
    into the sleep of death.
⁴My enemies will say,
    “Now we've won!”
They will be greatly pleased
    when I am defeated.

⁵I trust your love,
and I feel like celebrating
because you rescued me.
⁶You have been good to me, Lord,
and I will sing about you.

Psalm 13

The Message

13 ^1-2Long enough, God—
    you’ve ignored me long enough.
I’ve looked at the back of your head
    long enough. Long enough
I’ve carried this ton of trouble,
    lived with a stomach full of pain.
Long enough my arrogant enemies
    have looked down their noses at me.

^3-4Take a good look at me, God, my God;
I want to look life in the eye,
So no enemy can get the best of me
or laugh when I fall on my face.

^5-6I’ve thrown myself headlong into your arms—
I’m celebrating your rescue.
I’m singing at the top of my lungs,
I’m so full of answered prayers.

Psalm 13

New Living Translation

Psalm 13

For the choir director: A psalm of David.

¹O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever?
    How long will you look the other way?
²How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul,
    with sorrow in my heart every day?
    How long will my enemy have the upper hand?

³Turn and answer me, O Lord my God!
Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die.
⁴Don’t let my enemies gloat, saying, “We have defeated him!”
Don’t let them rejoice at my downfall.

⁵But I trust in your unfailing love.
I will rejoice because you have rescued me.
⁶I will sing to the Lord
because he is good to me.

Contemporary English Version (CEV)

The Message (MSG)

New Living Translation (NLT)

Psalm 13 Contemporary English Version