Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for Bible-translators and others doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still early looks into the drafted texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

ULT To the music director. psalm David.

WEBBE For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET For the music director; a psalm of David.

FBV For the music director. A psalm of David.

BBE To the chief music-maker. A Psalm. Of David.

Moff From the Choirmaster’s collection. A song of David.

ASV For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

Drby To the chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

RV For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

KJB-1769 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.

KJB-1611 ¶ To the chiefe Musician. A Psalme of Dauid.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Psalm 13 Introduction

Structure and Formatting

Psalm 13 is considered to be one of the “lament psalms.” See the Introduction to Psalms for more information about the lament psalms. 1. David calls out to Yahweh regarding Yahweh’s seeming inattention to his troubles (1–2) 2. David asks Yahweh to “consider” and “answer” him and tells Yahweh what the result will be if Yahweh does not help him (3–4) 3. David expresses his trust in Yahweh’s “covenant faithfulness” and the fact that he will “rejoice” because of his hope that Yahweh will save him (5) 4. David will sing to Yahweh because of Yahweh’s kind actions towards him (6)

Religious and Cultural Concepts in This Psalm

Yahweh’s help

In this psalm David expresses to Yahweh that he desperately needs his help or else he will die (3) resulting in his enemies rejoicing at his downfall (4). David then affirms that he trusts that Yahweh’s “covenant faithfulness” will cause Yahweh to save him from his enemies and he will “sing to Yahweh” and “rejoice” as a result of Yahweh saving him. The word “salvation” in 13:5 refers to help or deliverance from one’s enemies. (See: save, deliverer and call-tosummon)

Note 1 topic: translate-unknown

לַ⁠מְנַצֵּ֗חַ

(la⁠mənaʦʦēaḩ)

The word translated as chief musician likely refers to the person in charge of music for worship. Some languages may have a term for a music leader. Alternate translation: [For the music director] or [For the leader of worship music]

Parallel PSA 13:0

Psalm 13 Introduction

Structure and Formatting

Religious and Cultural Concepts in This Psalm

Yahweh’s help