The Meaning of Psalms 13:2 Explained

Psalms 13:2

KJV: How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?

YLT: Till when do I set counsels in my soul? Sorrow in my heart daily? Till when is mine enemy exalted over me?

Darby: How long shall I take counsel in my soul, with sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?

ASV: How long shall I take counsel in my soul, Having sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

How long shall I take  counsel  in my soul,  [having] sorrow  in my heart  daily?  how long shall mine enemy  be exalted  over me? 

What does Psalms 13:2 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 13:1-6 - The Bounty Of God And The Folly Of Men
The first of these psalms evidently dates from the Sauline persecutions, 1 Samuel 19:1. Four times the persecuted soul cries, How long! The psalm begins in deepest dejection, but clears as it proceeds. Prayer often proves to be the ladder from the deepest dungeon to the more radiant day. We find here depression, Psalms 13:1-2; supplication, Psalms 13:3-4; assurance, Psalms 13:5-6. Do not carry your anxieties in your heart. Remember that Christ is by your side, and leading you through all to the Kingdom. Faith begins praise for victory before the fight has reached its worst.
The creed, character, and doom of the atheist are set forth in the next psalm, and the psalm is so important as to demand repetition. See Psalms 53:1-6. The root of atheism is in the heart, Romans 1:21. Its effect on character, speech, and action is disastrous, and it ends in great fear, Psalms 14:5. The best answer to atheism is the light and liberty of the children of God, Psalms 14:7; Hebrews 9:28; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 13

1  David complains of delay
3  He prays for preventing grace
5  He boasts of divine mercy

What do the individual words in Psalms 13:2 mean?

How long shall I take counsel in my soul [Having] sorrow in my heart daily long will be exalted my enemy over me
עַד־ אָ֨נָה אָשִׁ֪ית עֵצ֡וֹת בְּנַפְשִׁ֗י יָג֣וֹן בִּלְבָבִ֣י ؟ יוֹמָ֑ם אָ֓נָה ׀ יָר֖וּם אֹיְבִ֣י עָלָֽי

עַד־  How 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַד  
Sense: as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as.
אָ֨נָה  long 
Parse: Adverb
Root: אָן  
Sense: where?, whither? (of place).
אָשִׁ֪ית  shall  I  take 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: שִׁית  
Sense: to put, set.
עֵצ֡וֹת  counsel 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: עֵצָה 
Sense: counsel, advice, purpose.
בְּנַפְשִׁ֗י  in  my  soul 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: נֶפֶשׁ  
Sense: soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion.
יָג֣וֹן  [Having]  sorrow 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: יָגֹון  
Sense: grief, sorrow, anguish.
בִּלְבָבִ֣י  in  my  heart 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: לֵבָב  
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, soul, understanding.
؟ יוֹמָ֑ם  daily 
Parse: Adverb
Root: יׄומָם  
Sense: by day, in the daytime subst.
אָ֓נָה ׀  long 
Parse: Adverb
Root: אָן  
Sense: where?, whither? (of place).
יָר֖וּם  will  be  exalted 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָרוּם 
Sense: to rise, rise up, be high, be lofty, be exalted.
אֹיְבִ֣י  my  enemy 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: אֹיֵב  
Sense: (Qal) enemy.
עָלָֽי  over  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.