Bible Strands
Psalms 90:13
Return, O LORD! How long will it be? Have compassion on Your servants.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The psalmist speaks to Yahweh immediately after concluding that wisdom requires counting one's days, as established in Psalms 90:12. The plea occurs at a moment of perceived divine delay, looking forward to the morning satisfaction described in Psalms 90:14.
The words — The imperative שׁוּבָ֣ה (shuvah) commands God to "return" or act, while the interrogative phrase עַד־ מָתָי ('ad-matai) literally asks "until when?" regarding the duration. The verse closes with וְהִנָּחֵם עַל־ עֲבָדֶיךָ (ve-hinnachem al-avadekha), which translates directly to "and have compassion on Your servants."
The thread — This specific request for God's compassion on His servants appears in Deuteronomy 32:36, Psalms 106:45, and Psalms 135:14, where divine mercy follows the observation of human exhaustion or covenant remembrance.
Why it lands — The text demands a direct appeal for divine timing and mercy rather than a prescription for human endurance. It positions the reader to request God's intervention explicitly when faced with prolonged waiting.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Return, O Lord, how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants.
Cross-references
- Deuteronomy 32:36 For the LORD will vindicate His people and have compassion on His servants when He sees that their strength is gone and no one remains, slave or free.
- Psalms 106:45 And He remembered His covenant with them, and relented by the abundance of His loving devotion.
- Psalms 135:14 For the LORD will vindicate His people and will have compassion on His servants.
- Psalms 80:14 Return, O God of Hosts, we pray! Look down from heaven and see! Attend to this vine—
- Psalms 89:46 How long, O LORD? Will You hide Yourself forever? Will Your wrath keep burning like fire?
- Hosea 11:8 How could I give you up, O Ephraim? How could I surrender you, O Israel? How could I make you like Admah? How could I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart is turned within Me; My compassion is stirred!
- Joel 2:13 So rend your hearts and not your garments, and return to the LORD your God. For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion. And He relents from sending disaster.
- Amos 7:3 So the LORD relented from this plan. “It will not happen,” He said.
- Amos 7:6 So the LORD relented from this plan. “It will not happen either,” said the Lord GOD.
- Jonah 3:9 Who knows? God may turn and relent; He may turn from His fierce anger, so that we will not perish.”