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Psalm 13 · a question people ask

What changed between 13:4 and 13:5?

In the text

The psalm doesn't say. Psalm 6 tells of a change: "the LORD has heard the voice of my weeping" (Psalm 6:8). Psalm 13 never says the LORD answered, or that the enemy was gone. It says, "But I trust in your loving kindness. My heart rejoices in your salvation" (13:5), and "I will sing to the LORD, because he has been good to me" (13:6). It doesn't say what the LORD's goodness to him was (tap good). Psalm 116, after "I found trouble and sorrow" (Psalm 116:3), has the verb of 13:6's has been good: "Return to your rest, my soul, for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you" (Psalm 116:7). These notes don't give Psalm 13 a reason for its turn that the psalm doesn't give.

The verses

“lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed against him;” lest my adversaries rejoice when I fall. But I trust in your loving kindness. My heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the LORD, because he has been good to me.”
Psalm 13:4-6 · World English Bible
“Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity, for the LORD has heard the voice of my weeping.”
Psalm 6:8 · World English Bible
“The cords of death surrounded me, the pains of Sheol got a hold of me. I found trouble and sorrow.”
Psalm 116:3 · World English Bible
“Return to your rest, my soul, for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.”
Psalm 116:7 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Psalm 13

Psalm 13: How long, LORD?

The verb for what the psalmist's adversaries would do at his fall, "rejoice" (13:4), is the verb for his own heart in the next verse: "My heart rejoices in your salvation" (13:5). One Hebrew word, gil. And the psalm never says the LORD answered; its turn is "But I trust" (13:5).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions