How Long, Lord?
Psalm 13
An EasyEnglish Translation with Notes (about 1200 word vocabulary) on Psalm 13
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Gordon Churchyard
Words in boxes are from the Bible. Words in brackets, ( ), are not in the Hebrew Bible.

Jesus said. "With God anything is possible". (Matthew 19: 26)
Psalm 13
   (This is) a song of David for the music leader.
v1      How long, LORD, will you forget me? For all time?
     How long will you hide your face from me?
v2      How long must I think such sad thoughts? All day long?
     How long will my enemy win?
v3      Look! Answer me LORD.
     My God, give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death.
v4      My enemy will say, "I beat him!"
     My enemies will be very happy when I fall.
v5      But I will believe in your love that never fails.
     My heart will be very happy because you make me safe.
v6      I will sing to the LORD.
     He is so good to me.
The story of Psalm 13
David probably wrote Psalm 13 when Saul tried to kill him. This happened often. David asks God 4 times "How long?" David is very sad. Today we would say that David was depressed. Depressed means that we feel heavy inside because we are very very sad. We would like to die. But David prayed to the LORD. David said that he believed that God would not fail him. God would make him safe. Then David would not be depressed any more. David would sing to the LORD.
What Psalm 13 means 
Verses 1 – 2: David is depressed. David thought that God had left him. That is what "hide your face from me" means.
Verses 3 – 4: David asks God for an answer. David asks for "light to my eyes". This means life. David does not want to die.
Verses 5 – 6: God does not answer David. But David believes that God WILL answer. This is because the love of God never fails.
Something to do
When you feel sad, or depressed, or want to die, remember Psalm 13. Tell God that you feel sad. Ask God for help. Then tell God that you believe that he will answer you. Remember that the love of God never fails. 

© 2001, Wycliffe Associates (UK)
This publication is written in EasyEnglish Level A (1200 words)
January 2001
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