Commentaries Dictionaries Concordances

Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

Psalms 13:2

Take counsel. — Literally, put plans unto my soul. The plans (LXX., βουλὰς) formed in the mind turn to sorrows as they are frustrated. It is, however, so doubtful whether nephesh can stand for the mind, that it is better to render, how long shall I form plans against my soul (having) sorrow in my heart all the day? The next verse confirms the suspicion that suicide had been in the psalmist’s mind.

Daily. — There is a doubt about this rendering; but so Symmachus, and many moderns, relying on Ezekiel 30:16, “distresses daily.”

Continues after advertising

See also Psalms 13:2 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Psalms 13:2. _TAKE COUNSEL IN MY SOUL_] I am continually framing ways and means of deliverance; but they all come to naught, because thou comest not to my deliverance. When a soul feels the burd...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    HOW LONG - This refers to the third aspect of the case, or the third phase of the trouble, that is, that he was perplexed and embarrassed, having a deep and heavy sorrow in his heart, and he asks how...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    Psalms 13 _ 1. How long? Answer me, Jehovah (Psalms 13:1)_ 2. The victory of faith (Psalms 13:5) Psalms 13:1. Four times “How long?” The tria

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    XIII. A PRAYER IN DISTRESS WITH CONFIDENCE OF FINAL VICTORY. Psalms 13:2. Read, How long must I bear affliction on my soul? (Psalms 13:2_ a_) and in the same verse day and night (LXX, in some codices...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    MY SOUL. myself (emph.) Hebrew. _nephesh._ App-13....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    A reproachful expostulation in the hour of despair....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Lit. How long shall I set counsels in my soul? devising one plan after another in vain. _daily_ The Heb. word means _by day_in contrast to _by night_(Psalms 22:2). We must either supply _and by night_...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    HOW LONG SHALL I TAKE COUNSEL, &C.— Or, according to the original, _revolve divers thoughts in my mind?_ as persons do who are reduced to the last extremity, and very anxious and uncertain what resolu...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    PSALMS 13 DESCRIPTIVE TITLE A Sorely Tried Believer in Jehovah Expostulates, Entreats, and Ultimately Exults. ANALYSIS Stanza I., Psalms 13:1-2, Expostulation; Stanza II., Psalms 13:3-4, Entreaty;...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _HOW LONG SHALL I TAKE COUNSEL IN MY SOUL, HAVING SORROW IN MY HEART DAILY? HOW LONG SHALL MINE ENEMY BE EXALTED OVER ME?_ How long shall I take (literally, put) counsel in my soul? - when thou, the...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    of the Messianic hope in Psalms 2, 20, 28, 40. The following Pss. are either quoted from or distinctly referred to in NT.: 2, 4, 5, 8, 10, 14, 16, 18, 22, 24, 32, 34, 40, 41. In several instances the...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    TAKE COUNSEL IN MY SOUL] be compelled to make vain plans for my own deliverance....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    Psalms 1:41 _GORDON CHURCHYARD_ Words in boxes are from the Bible. The notes explain some of the words with a *star by them. Tap the * before a word to show an explanation. The translated Bible tex...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    _[Psalms 13:3]_ עַד ־אָ֨נָה אָשִׁ֪ית עֵצֹ֡ות בְּ...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    Psalms 13:1 THIS little psalm begins in agitation, and ends in calm. The waves run high at first, but swiftly sink to rest, and at last lie peacefully glinting in sunshine. It falls into three strophe...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    THE BOUNTY OF GOD AND THE FOLLY OF MEN Psalms 13:1; Psalms 14:1 The first of these psalms evidently dates from the Sauline persecutions, 1 Samuel 19:1. Four times the persecuted soul cries, _How long...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    This little psalm is very full of beauty as it traces the way by which many a tried and, tempest-tossed soul has found consolation and strength. First of all, there is the cry almost of despair. Foes...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    How long shall I take (b) counsel in my soul, [having] sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me? (b) Changing my purposes as the sick man does his place....

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _God. Those only who seek God, understand their real interests. (Haydock) --- The pagans, and particularly those of Babylon, lived in the greatest dissolution, so as to call loudly for vengeance, ver....

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    While we keep in view the person of our Lord, whose desertions of the Father for our sins, which he bore, made him eminently distinguished in this instance, as well as all others, for the greatness of...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    2._How long shall I take counsel in my soul? _We know that men in adversity give way to discontent, and look around them, first to one quarter, and then to another, in search of remedies. Especially,...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    In Psalms 13 the righteous is reduced to the lowest point of distress as far as evil from men goes. It is as if God had entirely and definitely forgotten him. His enemy was exalted over him, and he ta...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    HOW LONG SHALL I TAKE COUNSEL IN MY SOUL,.... Or "put it" s; to take counsel of good men and faithful friends, in matters of moment and difficulty, is safe and right; and it is best of all to take cou...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    How long shall I take counsel in my soul, [having] sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me? Ver. 2. _How long shall I take counsel in my soul_] _i.e._ Conceal my grief,...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _How long wilt thou forget_ That is, neglect or disregard; _me, O Lord? for ever?_ Shall it be during my whole life? _How long wilt thou hide thy face?_ Withdraw thy favour and assistance? _How long s...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    How long shall I take counsel in my soul, being filled with worry and distress over the apparent neglect of Jehovah, HAVING SORROW IN MY HEART DAILY? There was no intermission in his troubles; all the...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    A PRAYER FOR RELIEF IN THE MIDST OF TROUBLE. David may well apply as a type, so far as his experience during the persecution by Saul is concerned, to the believing sufferer and Christian martyr of ev...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    How long shall I be in such perplexities and anxieties of mind, not knowing what course to take, nor how to get out of my troubles?...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Psalms 13:2 take H7896 (H8799) counsel H6098 soul H5315 sorrow H3015 heart H3824 daily H3119 enemy H341 ...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘How long, O YHWH? Will you forget me for ever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, Having sorrow in my heart by day? How long shall my enemy be exa...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Psalms 13:1. _How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine e...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Prayer for deliverance from enemies. CHARACTERS: God, David. CONCLUSION: The believer's desires often turn to impatience, for days seem long when the soul is cast down, but because God's f...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    REFLECTIONS. This psalm was Israel's plaintive song in the time of trouble. It eased their hearts in captivity, that a bright morning would break, and chase their night away; that God would make darkn...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _How long shall I take counsel in my soul?_ PLAN MAKING The literal rendering of this verse brings before us the folly of mere plan making. David is taking counsel in his own soul: inventing plans of...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _How long wilt Thou forget me, O Lord?_ DISTRESS AND CONFIDENCE This little Psalm begins in agitation and ends in calm. However true it is that sorrow is “but for a moment,” it seems to last for an e...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    PSALM PSALM—NOTE ON PSALMS 13:1. This is an individual lament. The worshiper is on the verge of despair. ⇐...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    PSALM—NOTE ON PSALMS 13:2 The ENEMY is typically one who hates. The enemy’s hatred of the singer’s faithfulness leads him to gloat over the singer’s misfortunes....

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    INTRODUCTION “In this psalm we see a servant of God, long and sorely tried by the persecutions of unrelenting enemies, and, as it seems to himself, forgotten and forsaken of God, pouring out the agony...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION THE writer—again, according to the title, David—is reduced almost to utter despair. He has undergone lengthened persecution—the Divine countenance has been turned away from him (Psalms 13:1...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    The thirteenth psalm, to the chief musician. Psalm of David. How long will thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long will thou hide your face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, havin...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Samuel 18:29; 1 Samuel 24:19; Ecclesiastes 5:17; Esther 7:6;...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    How long — Shall I be in such perplexities, not knowing what course to take?...

Continues after advertising