Psalms 13:4

Lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed against him”; Lest my adversaries rejoice when I fall.

World English Bible
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Other translations

WEBBE

lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed against him;” lest my adversaries rejoice when I fall.

BSB

lest my enemy say, “I have overcome him,” and my foes rejoice when I fall.

KJV

Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved.

ASV

Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; [Lest] mine adversaries rejoice when I am moved.

BBE

And he who is against me may not say, I have overcome him; and those who are troubling me may not be glad when I am moved.

Original Hebrew

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The early church

"Lest at any time mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him" [Psalm 13:4]. The devil's mockery is to be feared. "They that trouble me will exult, if I be moved;" the devil and his angels; who exulted not over that righteous man, Job, when they troubled him; because he was not moved, that is, did not draw back from the steadfastness of his faith. [Job 2:3]
Augustine of Hippo · d. 430Expositions on the Psalms

Commentary

Spurgeon · Verse 4

Another plea is urged in the fourth verse, and it is one which the tried believer may handle well when on his knees. We make use of our arch-enemy for once, and compel him, like Samson, to grind in our mill while we use his cruel arrogance as an argument in prayer. It is not the Lord's will that the great enemy of our souls should overcome his children. This would dishonour God, and cause the evil one to boast. It is well for us that our salvation and God's honour are so intimately connected, that they stand or fall together.

Our covenant God will complete the confusion of all our enemies, and if for awhile we become their scoff and jest, the day is coming when the shame will change sides, and the contempt shall be poured on those to whom it is due.

Read Spurgeon on Psalm 13 →

Cross-references

17

Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.